Shotgunners Should Solve Cross-Eye Dominance

All your lives parents, coaches, etc. tell you to, "Keep our eyes on your goal," and to, "stay focused." You have to, of course, because there´s often obstacles that keep you off-target. Shooting a shotgun is no different. There are obstacles and distractions. And heck, there are some things hindering your success you can´t see. Take cross-eye dominance for example. "What is it?" you say.

Basically, you have one dominant eye that is stronger than the other when it comes to pinpointing things. Both of your eyes work together, but while one pinpoints objects you view, the other, the less-dominant eye helps the brain register perception of depth. So whether you shoot left-handed or right-handed, if your dominant eye is not the one sighting down the barrel, you´ll have problems being on target. For example, if you´re right-handed but your dominant eye is your left, you´re looking down the barrel of the shotgun with the less-dominant eye.

The importance of recognizing this and knowing your dominant eye can´t be stressed enough for shotgunners.

"Cross-eye dominance should be the first thing beginning shooters check for," said Rick Moore, a level three National Sporting Clays Association instructor. "It´s something you and the instructor (if you have one) should know first. If you don´t know there´s a dominant-eye problem, you can be missing targets and neither you nor your instructor will have any idea as to why. That´s frustrating.

There are several basic "field tests" to determine cross-eye dominance. One of the most common is to point at an object with both of your eyes open. Without moving your finger, close one eye and then the other. One eye will show the finger lined up with the object you are pointing at. That´s your dominant eye, and the eye you should be sighting down your shotgun´s barrel with. (Moore noted that cross-eye dominance is seldom a problem for rifle shooters, because they use scopes or line up a bead within a buckhorn-type sight.)

Cross-eye dominance is more common than most people think. "As many as 40 percent of right-handed shooters are cross-eye dominant and fewer than 10 percent even know it. The incidence of cross-eye dominance in left-handed shooters is as much as 80 percent," Moore said."This means a tremendous number of shotgunners are sighting with the wrong eye and missing more often than they should."

Of course, there are several things shotgunners can do to overcome (or at least tolerate) cross-eye dominance. One is blurring the lens of your shooting glasses in front of your cross-dominant eye. This forces the less-dominant eye to take over. Another option is learning to shoot on the other shoulder, to match the cross-dominant eye. As for blotting or blurring the vision, Moore said he doesn´t like the idea of obscuring the vision of any shooter, for safety´s sake.

"Do you really want to be on the firing line beside a guy that doesn´t have total peripheral vision?" he asked. He added one of the basic rules for successful shotgun shooting is keeping both eyes open. As for changing shoulders, it can be done. Moore did it, but added it took him 5,000 rounds of ammunition and untold hours.

"In addition to time and expense, switching shooting shoulders also requires commitment and dedication. For those that have been shooting a long time, it´s like taking a huge step backward. I´ve only known three people that have been able to switch," Moore said. "But again, the eye that is looking down the barrel is the one that needs to be driving the shotgun."

Fortunately, Moore admits to experimenting, if not stumbling, onto something that should be an incredible solution for shotgunners facing cross-eye dominance.

"I was toying with magnifying lenses and some HiViz sights, when I noticed something, and it all came together. That´s when I thought, ´Here we go, now we have something to work with when it comes to cross-eye dominance,´" he said. What followed was Moore becoming the co-inventor of what´s been dubbed MagniOptic Technology.

MAGNIOPTIC TECHNOLOGY

The small MagniComp and MagniHunter shotgun sights, manufactured by HiViz Shooting Systems, combine a proven HiViz optical-grade resin LitePipe with a unique magnifying chamber and lens. The result is a sight that is only visible using the proper sighting eye and with the head in proper shooting position. "It´s the same concept as looking through a rifle scope. The only way the sight can work is if the shooter´s head stays in position and the proper eye is used."

And though MagniOptic technology is designed with cross-eye dominance in mind, the sight likewise assists all shooters. Because the LitePipe is only visible when shooting form is correct, the sight helps ensure proper gun fit and consistent head position—both essentials in shotgunning.

Following are some elements to look for when choosing a light-gathering sight:

• RUGGED CONSTRUCTION. Injection-molded, optical-quality resin sights are superior to traditional fiber-optic sights in terms of durability.
• PRECISION. Injection molding also allows greater flexibility in diameter and even shape. For example, HiViz® Shooting Systems offers triangular LitePipes to enhance pinpoint accuracy. This innovative configuration is available on the TriViz, the FlashPoint and the TriComp. This triangular configuration addresses the most fundamental principle of shotgunning—point, don´t aim.

HIVIZ® XCOIL™

A lot of focus goes into the muzzle end of firearms. In fact, the most recent trend in firearms design is toward magnums, short magnums, super-short magnums, 3-1/2" magnums, etc.

Basic physics teaches us that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. In shooting terms, that means that the bigger the bang you push out the front of your firearm, the bigger the wallop that hits you in the shoulder.

Prolonged practice sessions or even sighting in can take a toll—even using light target loads. Bruises heal, but something worse can occur from such punishment. Many shooters develop a flinch that greatly affects accuracy in a negative manner.

The simplest method for reducing recoil is with a recoil pad mounted directly on your gun. The key factor in choosing a recoil pad is overall recoil reduction. HiViz Shooting Systems offers the most effective pad on the market.

The XCoil™ pad from HiViz® Shooting Systems is constructed of a revolutionary composite proven superior at dampening recoil. It has been proven to absorb felt recoil more effectively than any other recoil pad currently available.

The XCoil™ is designed to maintain durability during years in the field or on the range. Impervious to virtually all weather, it maintains structural integrity and performance over a broad temperature range.

The unique texture of the XCoil´s™ composition allows the gun to be shouldered rapidly, yet resists slipping once in position for consistent gun positioning and improved eye/hand coordination.