Shooting with both eyes open can be tricky when you are used to shooting with one eye. Shooting with one eye open is easy to aim at the target by using your dominant eye to aim at the target.
Usually, archers find it less intuitive to shoot with both eyes open as it diverts your focus from the target, but you may find shooting with both eyes open more fun than one eye.
This article contains all the information about how to shoot a bow with both eyes open and get comfortable with this type of shooting. You can also learn the benefits and drawbacks of this shooting from this article. So, stay tuned!
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How To Shoot with Both Eyes Open Archery?
If you are comfortable closing one eye or opening both eyes, it is okay. All that matters is how you can gain precision and accuracy. There are multiple benefits to shooting with both eyes open, and you can try doing it if you want to try every aspect of archery to find what you are best at. You can shoot ideally when you have complete confidence in shooting the way you want to. When you are already shooting in a certain way, it might be challenging to switch to another method, and you will have to endure a lot of patience to get used to this type of archery.
If you have one dominant eye, you also have one dominant hand through which you like to shoot and release the arrow. If your right hand is dominant, it is more likely that your right eye will dominate. Then there is cross dominance, in which the person with the dominant right hand dominates the left eye and vice versa. This article contains all the information about how to shoot with both eyes open and its benefits and drawbacks.
Methods Of Shooting with Both Eyes Open
Eye Dominance
Usually, every archer has one dominant and one non-dominant eye to look at the target. You can look at the target with both eyes open, but you can see it through one of your eyes, generally from your dominant eye.
The dominant eye takes control over all the seeing as it can locate and aim better than the non-dominant eye. When you shoot with both eyes, you use your dominant eye to aim the target and the other eye to get a clear and far image of the field. The non-dominant eye does not locate the target for you.
There are three types of dominance; one eye is dominant, and cross dominance, in which your eye dominance changes based on conditions such as lightning and tiredness. Another type is no dominance; in this dominance, both eyes are equally dominant.
When you are shooting with both eyes open, aim at the target and see it with your dominant eye and squint your non-dominant eye or try not to focus from your non-dominant eye. You can also practice ignoring all the distractions that result from your non-dominant eye
Testing with Both Eyes Opened
You can start shooting with both eyes open by taking a test. In this test, stand in front of the target, open your eyes, and focus on the target. Take out your bow and add an arrow; now draw the string and shoot an arrow with complete focus on the target with both your eyes. In this test, your brain will take over your eyes and decide where the arrow will fall.
Slow Transitioning
Another method to shoot the bow with both eyes open is slowly transitioning. First, shoot by squinting and focusing on the target with one dominant eye. When you consider that you are skilled enough in this type of shooting, you can start shooting from both eyes and equally dividing the focus from both your eyes; this might feel a little weird initially, but it is not impossible.
You can quickly learn to excel at this archery with patience and practice. Shooting with one eye open is beneficial, but you may not like it, and they do not get comfortable with this archery and like to continue aiming with their dominant eye.
Should You Shoot Archery with Both Eyes Open
If you are thinking about shooting archery with both eyes open, you should know that this type has pros and cons. Let’s have a look at some of its benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits of Shooting with Both Eyes Open
Better Vision in Dim Light
When you are shooting in low light, it becomes difficult to shoot because of the deficiency of the light. In this situation, you must shoot with both eyes to focus better on your target. Half the light is blocked when using a peep sight to shoot, and you must open both eyes to see the target clearly before shooting. In these cases, you will have to open your non-dominant eye to locate the target more clearly and unblock the light coming your way.
You Have a Wider Field View
Along with unblocking the light, you can get a clear and better view of the field with both eyes and be accurately aware of your surroundings. You can also understand 3D, which will help in making distance judging easier.
You Can Hit the Target Quicker
When you enter a field for hunting, you must get to an animal quickly and humanely to prevent him from suffering. You can do this if you can see the surroundings ultimately.
Removes Eyestrain
When you open your dominant eye and close the other one, you put a lot of pressure on your dominant eye so it can handle it. This way, you will experience more fatigue if you close one eye. While opening both eyes will let the strain and tension divide between both eyes, and you can quickly locate your target without getting tired.
Drawbacks of Shooting with Both Eyes Open
Needs Patience
It would help if you had a lot of patience to focus on the target and let your brain take over your eyes to focus on the target before shooting. You will have to ignore the focusing of your non-dominant eye completely.
Ignoring the Non-dominant eye is tough
When both eyes are opened, and you try to focus on a tiny target, it gets complicated due to the multiple distractions coming your way. When trying to ignore your non-dominant eye, it is tough to focus where you need to.
Difficulty For Equally Dominant Eyes
If you don’t have a perfectly dominant eye and a balanced vision, in this case, you cannot focus on one target and forget the distractions from the other eye. When both eyes have equal dominance and are open while shooting, both will fight for equal dominance and put equal pressure on the target, making it difficult for you to shoot.
All the above situations are why archers suggest shooting with partially open eyes. You may find the benefits fascinating and try to shoot with both eyes open, while some get uncomfortable and miss targets by getting multiple images of the targets.
Should You Shoot a bow with Both Eyes Open?
Yes, you can shoot archery with both eyes open; this way, you can shoot pretty well if you practice. Shooting with both eyes open will let you locate the target better with a better field view and have better vision when the light is less.
Do You Shoot a Compound Bow with Both Eyes Open?
Shooting a compound bow with both eyes open is possible but has many drawbacks and benefits. Yes, you can have a better field view and better vision in dim light, but this is not enough. Sometimes, it gets difficult to ignore your dominant eye and focus on a tiny target with both eyes open.
