I've had a retina detachment. Three operations to reattach. Oil in vitreous to support the retina. Unfortunately my right dominate eye is now blurred on the macula , right where target is tracked. I've been shotgunning for 40 years ,learning to shoot left handed with a left dominate eye is a bitch. Does anyone have a suggestion(s)? Ambidextrous pistol, rifle shooting no problem. Dynamics of my established swing is.
Mike
Shooting with cross dominate eye
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Re: Shooting with cross dominate eye
Rough luck. Which is the big problem for you; handling and operating the gun left-handed, or sighting and focusing with your non-dominant eye? Or are you having major difficulty with both transitions?
I'm pretty sure I started out solidly right-handed, but I've been working (non-intensively) toward ambidexterity since I was a kid, mostly by forcing myself to use my left hand for a few specific tasks at a time until I was comfortable with them, then focusing on something else. One thing I've noticed is that while mastering specific tasks with my non-dominant hand always takes repetition and practice of that task, that development is also helped by more generally exercising and developing fine motor control for that hand.
For example, I did a lot of computer gaming during high school and most of my undergrad college career; right hand occupied with the mouse, left hand working the keyboard. I feel like that really helped improve my left-hand manual dexterity, especially during college when I shifted from first-person games and really got into an online multiplayer game that demanded very complex and fast-paced use of the keyboard at the high end of skill & progression. Since then, I've been using my left hand more frequently for dexterous tasks, and it takes less effort to adjust to performing specific activities with my left hand that I could formerly only do well with my right. With surprisingly little practice, I've developed the ability to type with either hand, with fairly similar levels of speed and accuracy. I can also work a computer mouse left-handed pretty effectively (though my fine control over movement is still better with my right hand).
I don't do much gaming anymore, but I've been jumping on other opportunities to use my left hand for finer tasks. I'm a big fan of mechanical puzzles like Rubik's Cubes for one; I have a custom-built 3x3x3, as well as 5-row and 7-row cubes. I almost always have one of those nearby as a non-intensive way to occupy my hands when I have to wait around for something, and as I'm solving them, I consciously force myself to perform moves with both my right and left hands equally, rather than simply holding the cube with my left hand and manipulating it with my right as I would do naturally.
So in your case, while adjusting your shooting technique is certainly going to require a fair bit of dedication and range time to re-learn the movements and muscle memory, you should be able to help the process off the range as well by "working out" your left hand as much as possible. On the computer, try switching your mouse to your left hand. Use your eating utensils left-handed during meals. Unlock your front door with your left hand instead of your right. It'll all feel weird at first, but using your non-dominant hand more frequently for little day-to-day dexterous tasks like these should make it easier to pick up other left-handed techniques that you (presumably) don't get the chance to practice every day.
As for the ocular dominance, I don't have the same level of first-hand experience to relay. I'm extremely right-eye dominant; even when focusing on something to the far left of my field of view, my right eye remains dominant right up until my nose blocks its line of sight. My peripheral range is noticeably more extensive on my right side, and I even have trouble focusing on fine detail with my right eye closed. I've developed the ability to do a lot of left-handed operations and manipulation with my firearms (loading/unloading magazines, safety checks, cycling, etc.), but I've yet to seriously attempt to aim and shoot left-handed.
One thing I have read is that covering the dominant eye will force the brain to rely on the other eye, and can help shift ocular dominance. You could try wearing an eyepatch at home and at the range, where the loss of depth perception or irritation won't be as problematic or hazardous. But please be aware that I'm not an expert in any way. In fact this is probably something you should bring up and discuss with your actual doctor before attempting.
I'm pretty sure I started out solidly right-handed, but I've been working (non-intensively) toward ambidexterity since I was a kid, mostly by forcing myself to use my left hand for a few specific tasks at a time until I was comfortable with them, then focusing on something else. One thing I've noticed is that while mastering specific tasks with my non-dominant hand always takes repetition and practice of that task, that development is also helped by more generally exercising and developing fine motor control for that hand.
For example, I did a lot of computer gaming during high school and most of my undergrad college career; right hand occupied with the mouse, left hand working the keyboard. I feel like that really helped improve my left-hand manual dexterity, especially during college when I shifted from first-person games and really got into an online multiplayer game that demanded very complex and fast-paced use of the keyboard at the high end of skill & progression. Since then, I've been using my left hand more frequently for dexterous tasks, and it takes less effort to adjust to performing specific activities with my left hand that I could formerly only do well with my right. With surprisingly little practice, I've developed the ability to type with either hand, with fairly similar levels of speed and accuracy. I can also work a computer mouse left-handed pretty effectively (though my fine control over movement is still better with my right hand).
I don't do much gaming anymore, but I've been jumping on other opportunities to use my left hand for finer tasks. I'm a big fan of mechanical puzzles like Rubik's Cubes for one; I have a custom-built 3x3x3, as well as 5-row and 7-row cubes. I almost always have one of those nearby as a non-intensive way to occupy my hands when I have to wait around for something, and as I'm solving them, I consciously force myself to perform moves with both my right and left hands equally, rather than simply holding the cube with my left hand and manipulating it with my right as I would do naturally.
So in your case, while adjusting your shooting technique is certainly going to require a fair bit of dedication and range time to re-learn the movements and muscle memory, you should be able to help the process off the range as well by "working out" your left hand as much as possible. On the computer, try switching your mouse to your left hand. Use your eating utensils left-handed during meals. Unlock your front door with your left hand instead of your right. It'll all feel weird at first, but using your non-dominant hand more frequently for little day-to-day dexterous tasks like these should make it easier to pick up other left-handed techniques that you (presumably) don't get the chance to practice every day.
As for the ocular dominance, I don't have the same level of first-hand experience to relay. I'm extremely right-eye dominant; even when focusing on something to the far left of my field of view, my right eye remains dominant right up until my nose blocks its line of sight. My peripheral range is noticeably more extensive on my right side, and I even have trouble focusing on fine detail with my right eye closed. I've developed the ability to do a lot of left-handed operations and manipulation with my firearms (loading/unloading magazines, safety checks, cycling, etc.), but I've yet to seriously attempt to aim and shoot left-handed.
One thing I have read is that covering the dominant eye will force the brain to rely on the other eye, and can help shift ocular dominance. You could try wearing an eyepatch at home and at the range, where the loss of depth perception or irritation won't be as problematic or hazardous. But please be aware that I'm not an expert in any way. In fact this is probably something you should bring up and discuss with your actual doctor before attempting.
Re: Shooting with cross dominate eye
My vision may not be similar to yours; however, I'm Left eye dominant and a Right hander. I was told that I needed to shoot Left handed or close my Left eye. All kinds of suggestions regarding training my Right eye to be dominant such as wear a patch or smear vasoline on the Left lens of the shooting glasses, etc. Bull Cocka!! Went to the range, kept both eyes open and allowed the views of the front sight to merge which resulted in all shots on target. So, it turned out to be a non-issue, for me. The visual cortex took over the sighting details and the over-thinking brain chilled out.