Eye Dominance: Archery's Secret Weapon

Eye dominance is a critical factor in archery, affecting an archer's accuracy and overall experience. It refers to the preference for visual input from one eye, similar to how some people are right or left-handed. While most people are right-eye dominant, it's not always aligned with their handedness, creating a challenge for archers. Understanding eye dominance is crucial for optimal shooting accuracy, and there are tests and techniques to determine and address it, such as using eye patches or adjusting shooting techniques.

How to determine eye dominance

Eye dominance, or ocular dominance, is when one eye performs more functions and sends more signals to the brain than the other. It is usually, but not always, the same side as your dominant hand. So, if you're right-handed, chances are your right eye is dominant.

There are three primary types of eye dominance:

• Motor dominance: The eye is less likely to lose its fixation close to the convergence near point.
• Sighting dominance: One eye is preferred when fixating on a target.
• Sensory dominance: One eye's vision is stronger than the other.

There are various tests you can do to determine your dominant eye.

The Hole-in-Card Test

For this test, you will need a card with a hole in the middle (approximately 1.25 inches in diameter).

• Choose a distant object to look at through the hole.
• Hold the card in front of you at arm's length, keeping both eyes open and the target object centred in the hole.
• Gradually move the card closer to your face, keeping both eyes open and the target centred.
• Notice which eye the card is in front of. That's your dominant eye.

The Point Test

• Pick an object to concentrate on in the distance.
• Clasp your hands together with your fingers intertwined but with your index fingers together and extended to a point.
• Point your index fingers at your chosen object.
• Alternate closing each eye while looking at the object. Your dominant eye is the one that, when open, keeps your index fingers pointed at the target object.

The Thumb Test

This is a variation on the point test.

• Keep both eyes open and focused on a distant object.
• Extend one arm out in front and point your thumb upwards.
• Alternate closing each eye. The eye that sees your thumb directly in front of the target object is your dominant eye.

The Triangular Opening Test

• Extend your arms in front of you and create a triangular opening between your thumbs and pointer fingers by placing them together.
• With both eyes open, centre this triangle on a distant object.
• Close your left eye. If the object stays centred, your right eye is dominant. If the object is no longer framed by the triangle, your left eye is dominant.

The Single-Hand Test

• Keep both eyes open and focused on a distant object.
• Extend one arm out and point with your index finger or thumb at the object.
• Close one eye and then the other. The eye that keeps your finger directly in front of the object while the other eye is closed is your dominant eye.

The Miles Test

• Face your palms away from your body and put your arms out in front of you.
• Form a small hole with your hands by crossing your forefingers and thumbs.
• Look at something that is about 20 feet away, keeping both eyes open and looking at it through the hole.
• Close one eye and then open it. This should make the object you're focusing on either jump to the side or disappear from the hole. If the object does not move when you cover one eye, that is your dominant eye.

The Near Point Convergence Test

• Focus on a target moving towards your nose.
• Your non-dominant eye will be the first to diverge to the side of your face.

It's worth noting that eye dominance may not have much importance in your everyday life. However, knowing which eye is dominant can be helpful if you're an athlete, marksman, or photographer. It can also impact how an optometrist corrects your vision or treats certain eye conditions.

The importance of eye dominance in archery

Every archer wants to improve their shooting accuracy, and one of the fundamentals to achieving this is understanding eye dominance. Eye dominance is a critical factor in shooting accuracy, and knowing your dominant eye will help you master your bow and arrow, thus improving your accuracy in the field.

Eye dominance is similar to handedness. Just as most people use one hand more than the other to carry out tasks, most of us also have an eye that works harder than the other. Even though we use both eyes to see, the dominant eye naturally focuses on an object or aiming point.

Determining Eye Dominance

There are several tests to determine eye dominance, including the Miles Test and the Porta Test. The Miles Test involves creating a small "V" shaped hole with your hands and focusing on a small object at least 10 feet away. With both eyes open, you close one eye and observe what happens, then repeat with the other eye. The eye that keeps the object in view is your dominant eye. The Porta Test is similar, but instead of using a "V" shaped hole, you simply raise your thumb or index finger to align with a distant object.

In archery, you want your dominant eye to be in line with your bowstring and arrow shaft. If you're right-handed and right-eye dominant, or left-handed and left-eye dominant, your dominant eye will naturally line up with the string and arrow shaft when you pull the bowstring back. This is ideal because your dominant eye is the one your brain uses to focus.

Cross Dominance

However, not everyone has matching hand and eye dominance. This is called cross-dominance, and it can make aiming more challenging. If you're right-handed but left-eye dominant, for example, your non-dominant eye will line up with the bowstring and arrow shaft, while your dominant eye, which your brain is using to focus on the target, will not be lined up.

Overcoming Cross Dominance

There are a few ways to overcome cross-dominance issues in archery. One option is to close your dominant eye and aim with your non-dominant eye. Another option is to learn archery with your non-dominant hand. While this may take time and relearning, it is not impossible. A third option is to use an eye patch or a sticker on your glasses over your dominant eye, allowing your non-dominant eye to take over.

The Benefits of Understanding Eye Dominance

Understanding eye dominance is important for archers as it helps them find a natural fit with their bow, improving their shooting accuracy and overall archery experience. By determining their dominant eye and making any necessary adjustments to their shooting techniques, archers can optimise their performance and achieve better results.

How to overcome 'wrong' eye dominance

Eye dominance is an essential aspect of archery, and knowing your dominant eye is crucial to achieving accurate shots. While most right-handed people are also right-eye dominant, this isn't always the case, and some archers may find themselves struggling with eye dominance issues, which can be extremely frustrating. However, there are several ways to overcome these challenges and improve your archery skills. Here are some tips on how to overcome wrong eye dominance:

Determine Your Dominant Eye

Before you can address eye dominance issues, you need to confirm which eye is dominant. A simple test called the Miles test can help with this. Extend both arms and bring your hands together to create a small triangle-shaped opening between them. Focus on a distant object through this opening with both eyes open, and then slowly draw your hands back towards your face. Whichever eye your hand gravitates towards is your dominant eye.

Adjust Your Shooting Technique

If your dominant eye and hand don't match, you have a few options to improve your shooting accuracy:

• Switch to Your Non-Dominant Hand: You can choose to retrain yourself to shoot with your non-dominant hand, which takes time and practice but is possible. This option is worth considering if your eye dominance issues are severe.
• Use an Eye Patch: Covering your dominant eye with an eye patch allows you to keep both eyes relaxed and open while preventing your dominant eye from taking over. This method helps strengthen the muscles around your non-dominant eye, and with time, muscle memory will take over.
• Close Your Dominant Eye: Another option is to simply close your dominant eye while shooting. This may require some effort to keep the eye closed, but with practice, you can train your muscles to squint or keep the eye shut during your shot.
• Use Aids Like Stickers or Glasses: You can also use stickers or glasses designed specifically for archers with eye dominance issues. These aids act as a filter, allowing you to keep both eyes open while ensuring your non-dominant eye takes the lead in aiming.

Practice and Patience

Overcoming wrong eye dominance in archery requires time and dedication. Be patient with yourself and give your brain and muscles time to adapt to the changes. Start with close-range practice and gradually increase the distance as you become more comfortable with your new shooting technique. Remember, with consistent practice and the right tools, you can improve your accuracy and fully enjoy the art of archery.

Cross-dominance and how to manage it

Cross-dominance is when your dominant hand and dominant eye do not match. For example, you might be right-handed but left-eye dominant. This can make archery more challenging, as your dominant eye will not be lined up with the bowstring and arrow shaft when you draw.

There are several ways to manage cross-dominance in archery:

• Close your dominant eye and aim with your non-dominant eye: This is a common method used by cross-dominant archers. It can be more comfortable and accurate than trying to force your non-dominant eye to take over. Some people use an eye patch over their dominant eye to help with this technique.
• Learn archery with your non-dominant hand: You can train yourself to shoot with your non-dominant hand, which will allow you to use your dominant eye for aiming. This can take a lot of time and practice, but it is possible to retrain yourself.
• Use a bow that matches your eye dominance: If you are right-handed but left-eye dominant, for example, you could use a left-handed bow. This will take some time to get used to, but it will allow you to use your dominant eye for aiming.
• Use an eye patch: Covering your dominant eye with an eye patch can help your non-dominant eye take over, improving your shooting accuracy. This method can strengthen the muscles in your non-dominant eye over time.
• Close the dominant eye: Simply closing your dominant eye can help you aim with your non-dominant eye. This is often the easiest and most effective method for cross-dominant archers.

It is important to determine your dominant eye and make the necessary adjustments to improve your shooting accuracy. While it may take some time and practice to manage cross-dominance, it is not impossible to become an expert marksman with this condition.

The pros and cons of shooting with both eyes open

Shooting with both eyes open is a topic of debate among archers. While almost all elite competitors now shoot with both eyes open, it is not a requirement. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide which method is best for you:

Pros of shooting with both eyes open:

• Improved visibility and accuracy: With both eyes open, your eyes gather more light, creating greater visibility of your target. This is especially helpful in low-light situations or when aiming at a target with a lot of background details.
• Wider field of view: Our eyes see slightly different pictures, so by keeping both eyes open, we have a larger field of view. This is beneficial for hunters and 3D archers, as it is easier to spot the target and its surroundings.
• Better depth perception: Our eyes are better at estimating distances when both eyes are open due to depth perception. This can be demonstrated by trying to catch a ball with one eye closed and then with both eyes open.
• Reduced eye strain: Shooting with one eye closed can strain the open eye as it has to do all the work. With both eyes open, the workload is shared, reducing eye strain.
• More natural: We typically have either both eyes open or both eyes closed. Shooting with one eye closed is an unnatural state that can lead to eye strain over time.

Cons of shooting with both eyes open:

• Double target image: For some archers, aiming with both eyes open can produce a double target image, which can be distracting and affect accuracy.
• Difficulty in focusing: Keeping both eyes open can make it challenging to focus solely on the target, especially for beginners. It takes practice and training to learn how to focus with both eyes open.
• Inconsistency: Shooting with both eyes open may not be feasible in all situations. For example, in low-light conditions or when using a scope, it may be necessary to close one eye to improve accuracy.

Ultimately, the decision to shoot with one or both eyes open comes down to personal preference and comfort. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, and it is essential to find the technique that works best for you.

Frequently asked questions