Two eyes or One?

[Clarktar]

So I started shooting my bow with both eyes open the other day. Was wondering if other people are shooting with both eyes or one eye open.

Seems that with two eyes I am able to keep tabs on what is going on around me much better.... but it does take a little more concentration on the target.

 

[Browtine]

I've always shot with two eyes open. Your dominant eye is still doing all the focusing, but your non-dominate eye helps fill in the gaps around you allowing for a better and brighter field of view.

 

[Juan_ID]

I have seen people say "both eyes open are a MUST for the ultimate accuracy" I call BS on that. That's purely an opinion, now of course that's my opinion... I am different tho because I have been doing things different from the time I started shooting a bow. I am right handed therefor I shoot right handed but am left eye dominant (just found this out a year or two ago lol) so to try and shoot both eyes open my left eye tries to take over and can make it very frustrating if shooting any distance. At 20 and 30 I can do fine most times but beyond that and things aren't very clear for me. I think if you can do it, it definitely allows you to track the arrow flight better or so it seems for me at my 20&30 yard shooting. It may be something I could learn to overcome/cope with eventually but for now I do most of my shooting one eye closed cuz it's easier for me...

 

[bohntr]

I've always shot with both eyes open.......dominant eye will always take over.

 

[Nick Muche]

2 eyes

 

[justin davis]

2 eyes

 

[elkmule123]

I started shooting my bow with one eye, then last year I started shooting with two eyes,and I definitely noticed a better grouping on my arrows with the switch.

 

[boom]

two seems better than one.

but i cant. right hand, lefty eye dominant. i'm a mess. i have tried two eyes, and i can get some decent groups. to use my one eye; i aim with one, then open the other eye and focus on the which dot, "is the real dot".. it kinda works, but it would be a disaster in a hunting scenario.

my wife is out of school. when she gets a job, i am buying a lefty bow.. time to get it right.

 

[velvetfvr]

I have seen people say "both eyes open are a MUST for the ultimate accuracy" I call BS on that. That's purely an opinion, now of course that's my opinion... I am different tho because I have been doing things different from the time I started shooting a bow. I am right handed therefor I shoot right handed but am left eye dominant (just found this out a year or two ago lol) so to try and shoot both eyes open my left eye tries to take over and can make it very frustrating if shooting any distance. At 20 and 30 I can do fine most times but beyond that and things aren't very clear for me. I think if you can do it, it definitely allows you to track the arrow flight better or so it seems for me at my 20&30 yard shooting. It may be something I could learn to overcome/cope with eventually but for now I do most of my shooting one eye closed cuz it's easier for me...

I am the Same way but my left eye will open a little. I think I have even shot with both eyes open without realizing it. But my body and eyes seem to be adjusting and making my right take over when shooting.

 

[Tony Trietch]

Both open, but it is clearer with just one. I did not start using both till I was in college. I can do either but prefer two.

 

[Coyote Commander]

"Proper" shooting is both eyes open. True no matter what you're shooting.

 

[airlocksniffer]

I'm trying to teach myself to shoot with both eyes open but it's hard to break old habits. I recently read somewhere online that Randy Ulmer shoots with one and will/would put a patch over his non-dominant eye during competitions.

 

[squeekieslayer]

"Proper" shooting is both eyes open. True no matter what you're shooting.

I agree and disagree with this... "proper" form with a bow is whatever you can do consistently and accurately every single time. Ultimately accuracy is NOT different when shooting with one vs two eyes. Look at the final line in vegas and see how many guys are closing an eye, squinting an eye, or shooting with a patch or visor shield over their offhand eye.

There are reasons that it helps, straight accuracy is NOT one of them. All other aspects of form and torque held equal; If the housing is centered and the pin is where it should be, the arrow with go the same no matter if using 1, 2 or 0 eyes. 2 will help you relax, and in a hunting situation it will help you see peripherally if there is movement and such, but I feel there is too much stress put on shooting with 2 eyes open all the time.

Being relaxed and letting more light in helps people shoot better, but does not inherently cause there to be more accuracy in a given set up. Trust me, struggling to try and shoot with both open in a situation where your brain wont allow it is much worse for accuracy that closing one eye.

Joe

 

[ahlgringo]

Nice post squeekieslayer, totally agree. I shoot both eyes the majority of the time. I do have to squint my left (non-dom) eye for a brief second once in a while to get rid of seeing two targets. Sometimes I leave it squinted- it all depends on getting the best and clearest sight picture. I talked to my ophthalmologist about it and she went into a long rant about dominance and neural connections and that no two people have the same "connections". Bottom line, if it works for you then keep doing it.

 

[lintond]

For those of you that have opposite dominant eyes it may help to squint your non-shooting eye a little. Gives you the benefits of both eyes, but helps to stop the dominant eye from taking over. Two eyes really helps me in low light conditions.

 

[cody covey]

2 eyes, same with a gun.

 

[NEhunter]

2 eyes for me. My groups improved quite a bit once I started shooting with both eyes open.

 

[Pueblo]

I've always shot with both eyes and still do, but I'm now having an issue caused by my contact lens prescription. My left, normally non-dominant eye has a weaker correction so I can read without reading glasses (I'm 54) and my right is fully corrected to distance. I use a clarifier to see the pins. My brain has adapted to use my left eye up close. When I shoot a struggle occurs and I get a blended view which really puts a wrinkle in my focus and concentration. I can close my left eye to get refocused, but it's a confidence killer. Not sure what the long term solution is....maybe just give in to reading glasses and admit I'm over 50.

 

[BroodBuster]

I tried to switch from one eye to two after my lasic surgery but it was an epic fail.

One eye for me.

 

[HellsCanyon]

I can shoot both but it takes a lot of focus. I haven't noticed groups any different so I stick with one eye. Let's me focus on my form and release instead of making sure my right eye is dominating the sight picture.

Mike