Eye dominance in LEO training

[ExZeRoEx]

Hi, I was just wondering if left or right eye dominance was something that instructors would use to tell you to shoot with your right or left hand. This is just a question that came up after I read something about some right handed people who are left eye dominant and instructors telling them to shoot leftie.

[CaptMike]

usually, left eye dominance is not a major issue with handguns. We teach our LED recruits to shoot with the dominant hand and simply adjust (kant) there head slightly to line up the sights. It is more important to use the dominant hand to shoot, since our mechanics are at a higher level. LED may become an issue shootng a rifle if the rifle sights are low and do not allow an adjustment of the head to use those sights. In those cases where a recruit is not physically able (due to low rifle sights) to adjust, they are taught to shoot rifle week hand.

[BigDogatPlay]

As above, cross dominant is not a huge issue in pistol / revolver and I wouldn't expect any instructor these days to try to force a trainee to go to their weak hand as a first solution.

Cross dominance can also be, to some degree, effectively trained out using some simple exercises and / or techniques.

[CSDGuy]

Cross-dominance probably isn't a huge deal with handguns, but it might be one with rifles. Transitioning between the two might actually be easier, once the cross-dominant shooter learns to shoot rifle weak-handed.

[Corbin Dallas]

Hi, I was just wondering if left or right eye dominance was something that instructors would use to tell you to shoot with your right or left hand. This is just a question that came up after I read something about some right handed people who are left eye dominant and instructors telling them to shoot leftie.

There is absolutely NO need to change hands due to eye dominance... Any instructor who requires a shooter to switch hands due to cross eye dominance is not addressing the issue properly.

Proper training and practice is the key to firearms compentancy.

[AAShooter]

There is absolutely NO need to change hands due to eye dominance... Any instructor who requires a shooter to switch hands due to cross eye dominance is not addressing the issue properly.

Proper training and practice is the key to firearms compentancy.

As I recall, that is the recommendation from the NRA to their instructors. If they have a cross-eyed dominance, they suggest try to use the appropriate "handedness" to enable you to use your dominant eye. I don't think they require it.

[ExZeRoEx]

Thank you all for the clarification.

[Corbin Dallas]

As I recall, that is the recommendation from the NRA to their instructors. If they have a cross-eyed dominance, they suggest try to use the appropriate "handedness" to enable you to use your dominant eye. I don't think they require it.

I seriously hope this is not true. You wouldn't make a baseball /football player change their throwing arm because of eye dominance. You address the issue and work the solution.

I'm going to start becoming a fully certified instructor and I hope this is not the case.

[CSDGuy]

Throwing sports usually require both eyes be open to help the thrower determine distance. In those instances, eye dominance is not an issue. With handguns, it can be an issue, but you should have a couple different options. One is canting the pistol over to the dominant eye plane, or even switching to the weak hand. With training, the weak hand could become the dominant hand for shooting.

[ditmeus]

Hi, I'm currently attending an academy and our firearms instructors tell us to aim using the side where the handgun is being held. I.E. left hand hold, left eye aim; right hand hold, right eye aim. Well, that is how I'm being trained and I hope the info helps you.

[AAShooter]

Hi, I'm currently attending an academy and our firearms instructors tell us to aim using the side where the handgun is being held. I.E. left hand hold, left eye aim; right hand hold, right eye aim. Well, that is how I'm being trained and I hope the info helps you.

Are you attending the police academy? If so, I wish you the best.

[Ron-Solo]

I am right handed but left eye dominant. I shoot handgun, rifle, and shotgun right handed, and I do all very well. I have never had a problem qualifying and shoot "distinguished expert" on my department. To qualify DX, you must shoot 290 out of 300 on a timed combat course at 25 yards, and you must do it 3 times.

My 6 year old grandson is right handed, but it turns out he is left eye dominant. He was having trouble shooting his "Crickett Tactical Sniper" rifle ( ) but when I had him try shooting it left handed, he started hitting bullseyes very consistently. He was able to make the transition very easily. He kept trying to grip the rifle with his hands in the 'lefty' position but mounting the rifle right handed, which was kind of awkward for him. He now shoots very well and is very confidant. He loves to shoot steel plates at the range we belong to. The last time we went out, he knocked down 6 out of 6 several times with no misses. He can load, cock, and sight his target by himself.

Shooting is all about confidence and being comfortable in what you are doing. Righty, Lefty, it doesn't matter, just do what feels natural and have a relaxed mental attitude, and you will be OK.

The "Crickett Tactical Sniper" is a blue steel Crickett .22 rifle with a Crickett 4X scope and a Walmart Winchester bipod. The bipod helps him steady the rifle. I put the scope on it before I figured out he was left eye dominant. I just wrongly assumed he couldn't figure out the iron sights. He thinks the scope is cool (who wouldn't) so it stays on. He is now doing pretty well with iron sights too.

His dad is a cop, his grandfather is a cop, his great-grandfather was a reserve cop and US Army Rifle (M1 Garand) instructor, and his great-great-grandfather was a reserve cop and posse captain. Something in the genes I guess.

[fullrearview]

Shooting is all about confidence and being comfortable in what you are doing. Righty, Lefty, it doesn't matter, just do what feels natural and have a relaxed mental attitude, and you will be OK.

Yep..Our Academy taught us to shoot one way...They did teach us to use our dominat eye tho.....I actually had wrose scores by the way they taught us..

His dad is a cop, his grandfather is a cop, his great-grandfather was a reserve cop and US Army Rifle (M1 Garand) instructor, and his great-great-grandfather was a reserve cop and posse captain. Something in the genes I guess.

Thats cool! Hopefully he follows the path!

[Ron-Solo]

Well, at least he loves to shoot. He asks every time he comes to visit. I have to take him back to Arizona on Sunday.

[retired]

Well, at least he loves to shoot. He asks every time he comes to visit. I have to take him back to Arizona on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I missed a chance to shoot with both of you again at the club. Perhaps next time Ron. He is a good kid.

I'm lefty and right eyed dominant. I recall shooting at our shooting facility at Wayside (Called that by us OG guys) while a cadet. This was before the trap range was built. We would just walk up a hill and stop at various spots on the way up to shoot the clays they threw.

After shooting 10 rounds and missing all 10, the RI said that was some of the worst shooting he had ever seen. He then had me hold my left thumb up and center it on an object in front of me. He had me close my right, then my left eye and I discovered I was right eye dominant.

I shot the course again and hit 9 of 10. Even when the trap range was built a few years later I hit 9 of 10 every time. I could never get that 10 one.