RANGE TALK - Eye Dominance

Published on September 13, 2022
Duration: 2:50

This video from Top Guns explains how to determine your dominant eye, a crucial step for effective shooting. Instructors Christy and Eric demonstrate a simple test using your thumb and a fixed point. They emphasize the importance of learning to shoot with both eyes open to maintain peripheral vision, even for cross-dominant individuals, and explain how to adjust firearm placement accordingly.

Quick Summary

To determine your dominant eye for shooting, extend your arm with your thumb up, focus on a distant point, and close one eye at a time. The eye that keeps your thumb aligned with the point is dominant. Learning to shoot with both eyes open is recommended to maintain peripheral vision, aligning the firearm under your dominant eye.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Eye Dominance
  2. 00:15Why Eye Dominance Matters in Shooting
  3. 00:39Mike Tyson Analogy for Vision
  4. 00:53The Answer: Shoot With Both Eyes Open
  5. 01:08Closing Non-Dominant Eye (Early Stages)
  6. 01:17Simple Dominant Eye Test
  7. 01:41Cross-Eye Dominance Explained
  8. 01:55Strong Side Back Stance Adjustment
  9. 02:09Learning to Shoot With Both Eyes Open
  10. 02:26Benefits of Both Eyes Open Shooting
  11. 02:39Firearm Placement Under Dominant Eye
  12. 02:42Conclusion and Further Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I determine my dominant eye for shooting?

To find your dominant eye, extend your arm, focus on a distant point, and place your thumb up. Close one eye at a time. The eye that keeps your thumb aligned with the distant point is your dominant eye. This test is crucial for improving shooting accuracy.

Should I close one eye when shooting a handgun?

Ideally, no. You should learn to shoot with both eyes open to maintain full peripheral vision, which is vital for situational awareness. While closing one eye might be a temporary crutch for beginners, the goal is to adapt to two-eyed shooting.

What is cross-eye dominance and how does it affect shooting?

Cross-eye dominance means your dominant eye is opposite your shooting hand (e.g., right-handed, left-eye dominant). It's common and manageable. You can still shoot effectively by aligning the firearm under your dominant eye, even with both eyes open.

If I shoot with both eyes open, where should I aim?

Even when shooting with both eyes open, you should still align the firearm's sights under your dominant eye. This ensures you are using the eye that provides the clearest and most consistent sight picture for accurate aiming.

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