Scipius
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fingerling
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Ok i'm a beginner archer and have tried bringing this issue up at the range but no one seems to understand what i am saying. Maybe i can communicate it in text better.
I'm using a recurve bow right now, no sight, i just pick a spot on the edge of the handle to sight with. When i am aiming i am keeping both eyes open and focusing at the gold target beyond. However when you do this you will see two objects in front of you(bow sight). Likewise if you focus on the bow you will see two targets in front of you(target).
I was told not to close one eye because over time i will strain it. But the whole 'splitting object' image when keeping both eyes open is confusing me! Am i crazy or just doing something wrong here? Should i be closing one eye?
Any help on aiming is appreciated.
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fishdoc
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Thick Tail
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I hunted with a recurve for 7 years. Focus on the target, recurve is instinctual...you'll learn and its cool.
doc
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If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten.
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jimh
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Salted and Unsalted Boater!
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Loc: Area 8.1, 8.2, 9 or an S river...
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I'm wondering if you are shooting left handed but are right eyed or don't have a dominant eye. If you don't have a dominant eye or are right eye dominant, I think you may be better off to close the right eye.
I'm assuming based on your other post that you are shooting a left handed recurve.
You can shoot without a sight by either "instict", gapping of several types, bowhunter, or barebow. I can't easily explain the difference in a few words. If you plan to hunt, I suggest a sight.
Don't get me wrong, you can learn to be good enough to hunt, but the learning curve is steep and the arrow damage can be extensive. 
If you don't know how to tell which eye is your dominant eye, look here http://www.archeryweb.com/archery/eyedom.htm
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Wear a PFD if you want to live.
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Scipius
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fingerling
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holy crap i am right eye dominant! always thought i was left. But i tried shooting right handed and i cant, its like trying to write with my right hand, just doesnt feel comfortable.
so...close one eye?
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jimh
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Salted and Unsalted Boater!
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Loc: Area 8.1, 8.2, 9 or an S river...
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Close one eye or even better switch to right handed(and bows) for a better long term fix. That would also eliminate your problem with finding left hand bows.
It's actually not as hard as you might think to switch. That's especially the case with someone like you who is a beginner. I've shot a little left handed in the past to setup bows for people. It's not really that different.
You can do it!
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Wear a PFD if you want to live.
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Scipius
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fingerling
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ok i will try right hand again at the range, thanks!
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Scipius
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fingerling
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well, i used a right handed bow today a the range, exclusively. At first it was very uncomfortable, i couldnt even hit the target. I finally got my sight but my draw hand shoulder was very uncomfortable. The muscle next to my shoulder blade felt tight and burned. Though i certainly wasnt as comfortable as shooting left i realized by the end of the day i was as consistant as i am shooting LH. However my sighting is more 'instinctive' than scientific.
My instructor says there is no preference for using both eyes open or closing one eye, i;ve heard otherwise.
So, not sure what to do...keep going RH or go back to LH!!!
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jimh
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Salted and Unsalted Boater!
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I'd stay RH. Both eyes open gives you peripheral vision and depth perception.
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Wear a PFD if you want to live.
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Pug
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Skunked no more, broke the steelhead curse with a nate
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Absolutely stick with the right hand shooting. Instinctual shooting only works if you have all the other things lined up right. Non dominant eye shooting does not provide consistency unless you are doin like what you said. Using a referance that provides consistency. Like a spot on your bow. There are plenty of books and such on instinct shooting. I think that the best for you is going to be the one titled "Instinct Shooting." I can't remember who wrote it though. Sorry.
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Fishin fool if I can find the fools to fish!
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Sturgeonator
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He who dies with the most toys wins.
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Think of shooting instinctive the same as throwing a baseball. When you throw a baseball you don't aim or sight down your arm to hit your target you just look at what you are throwing at and the ball goes where it is supposed to. It's the same with instinctive shooting.
Use a very small aim point. For instance draw a half inch dot on a large sheet of paper. Start very close, say ten yards or less. Concentrate entirely on the dot as you draw and release. Don't pay any attention to the arrow or bow. Be sure you come to full draw and hit your anchor point then smoothly release the arrow. Don't snap shoot early but don't try to hold full draw for an extended time, it won't help. If you don't feel like you're on target and ready to shoot when you hit your anchor, let down and start over. That is better that trying to force a bad shot.
Once you can consistently shoot groups on or very near your aim point at ten yards then move back a couple of yards and start again bringing your group in. It won't take as long if you don't move back too far.
Remember each shot should feel the same. Same arm position, same head position, same anchor point, same stretch in your back as you come to full draw, same release, and possibly most importantly the same follow through after the release. Consistency is an absolute must.
It will be far easier as a beginner to change your shooting hand than to adapt to shooting with the incorrect dominate eye.
Good luck and most of all remember to have fun and don't take it so seriously to where you drive yourself nuts.
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It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good.
-George Washington
Tight Lines,
Len
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