The Importance of Nuanced Eye Dominance Across Sports

Eye dominance (also called ocular dominance) refers to the brain's preference for visual input from one eye over the other. In many sports, knowing which eye is dominant can significantly affect aiming, depth perception, and overall performance. Most individuals have a clearly dominant eye that aligns with their dominant hand, but a substantial minority are cross-dominant – for example, a right-handed person who is left-eye dominant. Cross-dominance often requires athletes to make specific adjustments in technique or stance to achieve the best results.

This comprehensive guide explores how eye dominance influences performance and best practices in various activities, including shooting sports, archery, ball sports, and target games. Each sport has unique considerations and solutions for athletes with different eye dominance profiles. A quick-reference section at the end summarizes the key tips for each sport. All advice is drawn from sports vision research and expert recommendations, with citations provided for further reading.

Shotgun Sports (Skeet/Trap)

Shotgun sports like skeet, trap, and sporting clays require the shooter to track fast-moving targets with both eyes open for depth perception. Eye dominance issues are common here. An athlete who is cross-eye dominant (e.g. right-handed but left-eye dominant) may find that the "wrong" eye takes over when pointing, causing misalignment. Instead of looking straight down the barrel, a cross-dominant shooter might inadvertently use the off-eye and see the side of the barrel or double images, leading to consistent misses.

One simple fix is to close the dominant eye to force the other eye to aim, but this is not ideal. Closing one eye reduces visual processing speed and depth perception – critical elements for gauging lead and distance on a flying clay target. It also narrows the field of view and can upset balance. In shotgun shooting, the goal is to keep focus on the target (the clay) rather than the barrel; losing binocular vision makes this harder.

To accommodate cross-dominance without sacrificing too much vision, shooters use a few strategies:

• Switch Shoulders: Some shooters learn to mount and shoot from the opposite shoulder so that the gun is aligned under the dominant eye. For example, a right-hander with left-eye dominance would shoot left-handed. This can be effective but requires significant retraining (and often left-handed firearms or adjustments to stock cast).
• Occlusion on Glasses: A common solution is placing a small piece of translucent tape or a dot on the shooting glasses over the dominant eye. This semi-blocks that eye's view of the front sight or target, nudging the brain to use the other eye when aiming. Because the tape only blurs a portion of the vision, the shooter maintains some peripheral vision on the dominant side, avoiding full loss of depth perception. The drawback is that this still creates a form of one-eyed aiming and must be positioned correctly for various target angles.
• Tinted Lenses: A more nuanced method is wearing glasses with unequally tinted lenses – a darker tint over the dominant eye and a lighter tint over the other. This reduces the dominant eye's input just enough for the other eye to take over, while the shooter still sees with both eyes open. Shooters report that with practice, the brain adapts to always favor the brighter image (the nondominant eye) for aiming, effectively correcting the cross-dominance without the "hard shut" of an eye patch. This method preserves full field of view and depth perception, since both eyes are contributing, just with adjusted balance.
• Gun/Foil Mods: Some specialty sights are designed to only be visible to the eye aligned straight down the rib (preventing the off-eye from seeing the bead). Products like sight extenders or rib attachments can help, though these tend to address symptoms more than the root cause. Adjusting shotgun fit (e.g. increasing cast or raising the comb) can also help a shooter keep their head position such that the correct eye is more likely to be aligned over the barrel.

The consensus among shotgun coaches is to avoid completely closing one eye if possible and instead use one of the above training or optical tricks to maintain binocular vision. By keeping both eyes working (even if one is slightly inhibited), shooters can better judge target speed, distance, and angle. Over time, many cross-dominant shooters can train their brain to automatically use the correct eye for aiming, especially if they start young or consistently employ these aids.

Rifle Shooting

In rifle shooting (hunting or target shooting), precision aiming is typically done through iron sights or a scope, often with one eye closed or using a blinder. Eye dominance is still important, but the solutions differ from shotgun sports because the shooter usually has more time and a static target.

The general rule is to aim with your dominant eye for best accuracy. For a cross-dominant person, this may mean learning to shoot from the other shoulder so that the dominant eye lines up with the sights. In competitive rifle shooting (smallbore, air rifle, etc.), many cross-dominant shooters simply shoot from their dominant-eye side from the start, even if it feels a bit awkward hand-wise, because it is easier to train new hand coordination than to fight a lifetime of eye preference.

If switching hands is not feasible (for example, someone who has been shooting right-handed for years and doesn't want to relearn), the alternative is to stick with the dominant hand but force the use of the other eye. Since rifle shooters often close an eye or use a scoped optic, this is practical:

• Using a scope: When looking through a telescopic sight, most shooters naturally close the off-eye or use very minimal input from it. A cross-dominant shooter can thus continue shooting on their strong-hand side and simply close their dominant eye when looking through the scope. The magnification and narrow field of view mean the brain can fully attend to the "weaker" eye image. Essentially, the scope view makes the non-dominant eye act as if it's dominant. Many hunters and even some soldiers do this without issue – if they've always shot right-handed, they might just close the left (dominant) eye when aiming a rifle.
• Using iron sights: With iron sights, one can also close the dominant eye. Aligning rear and front sights with the non-dominant eye can work fine for stationary targets. Some shooters use a small blinder on their shooting glasses (a translucent cover that flips down over the dominant eye) which allows them to keep both eyes technically open but blocks the dominant eye's view of the sights. This reduces strain and squinting while still preventing the "wrong" eye from interfering.
• Red dot sights: Interestingly, one solution for shotgunning that carries to rifles is using a red dot sight with both eyes open. A cross-dominant shooter can mount a red dot on their rifle; when both eyes are open, the dot will appear in the sight picture of the eye looking through it (the non-dominant eye in this case) and can be superimposed on the target, while the dominant eye sees the target area unobstructed. The brain often merges these images, giving the effect of a single sight picture where the dot is on target. This allows rapid target acquisition without closing an eye, effectively accommodating cross-dominance (as one eye sees the dot, the other sees the target). Some shotgun coaches recommend this approach for wingshooting too, using a red dot so that even a cross-dominant shooter can keep both eyes open and still aim correctly.

In summary, for rifles: if possible, train to shoot with the rifle on the side of your dominant eye (especially for new shooters). If not, use optics or sighting methods that let you compensate, and don't be afraid to close an eye when precision trumps depth perception. Unlike in dynamic shotgun shooting, closing one eye for a rifle shot (which is typically at a single, known-distance target) usually does not harm performance much, aside from perhaps reducing steadiness slightly in offhand positions. The key is consistency: whichever method a cross-dominant rifle shooter chooses, they should practice it extensively so it becomes second nature.

Archery

Archery is a sport where eye dominance is a fundamental consideration in equipment selection and technique. Because you typically aim a bow by aligning the string, rear sight (if any), and front sight or target with your dominant eye, using the correct eye is crucial for accuracy. In fact, most archery instructors will test a new archer's eye dominance right away and recommend that the person shoot from the side of their dominant eye, even if it means using their non-dominant hand to draw the bow.

Statistically, a majority of people (~74%) have matching hand and eye dominance, meaning a right-handed person is also right-eye dominant (or left-left). For them, the choice is straightforward (right-hand bow for right-eye dominant, etc.). However, roughly 25–30% of archers are cross-dominant. These individuals have two main paths:

1. Shoot on the dominant eye side: This means if you are right-handed but left-eye dominant, you learn to shoot left-handed (holding the bow in the right hand, drawing with the left). This allows you to aim with your naturally dominant left eye. Many coaches advocate this approach because the eye is so critical to accuracy – you can train up the strength and coordination in the other hand over time. Beginners may adapt quickly if they haven't built up years of muscle memory yet.
2. Use the dominant hand and train the other eye: Some archers feel very strongly about which hand they use (perhaps one arm is stronger or they've already been shooting for a while). These archers might choose a bow that matches their handedness (say, a right-handed bow) and then try to force themselves to use the right eye to aim, even though their left is naturally dominant. This usually involves closing or obstructing the dominant eye. For example, an archer could close their left eye when aiming, or more commonly, use an eye patch or blinder on the left eye so that it can't peek. By doing so consistently, some archers can get by without switching hands.

Both approaches have pros and cons. Training the nondominant hand can feel awkward and may take time, but once mastered, it allows the archer the full benefit of using their dominant eye without any obstructions. Conversely, training the nondominant eye (via patches or closing one eye) lets you use your stronger hand, but you might lose some depth perception and comfort in aiming. Many archers report that closing one eye isn't too detrimental in target archery because the distances are known and you're focusing on a flat target face (depth cues are less critical than, say, in hunting). However, for sports like 3D archery or bowhunting (judging distances to animal-shaped targets), having both eyes open could be more of an advantage.

Notably, some accomplished archers are cross-dominant and still shoot with their dominant hand by using these tricks, but beginners are generally encouraged to go with eye dominance from the start. It's easier to build strength and technique in your off-hand than to fight your eye. There are also specialized gear options, like adjustable sights that can be moved to accommodate slight head tilts, or shooting glasses with a blinder for the dominant eye.

Ultimately, the priority in archery is to get the dominant eye looking straight down the arrow. Whether that means changing the shooter's stance or accepting a bit of an eye patch, consistency is what counts. If you notice your groups are consistently off to one side, that's a classic sign that your other eye might be trying to take over during aiming, and an eye dominance check is in order.

Baseball

In baseball (and softball), eye dominance comes into play primarily in batting, but also slightly in pitching and fielding. Batters stand sideways to the pitcher, which means one eye is closer to the pitcher (the front eye) and one is farther (back eye). For a right-handed batter, the left eye is the front eye; for a left-handed batter, the right eye is front. There has been a long-running theory that a batter who has their dominant eye as the front eye would see the pitched ball better, potentially giving them an advantage. This scenario typically means the batter is cross-dominant (e.g., a right-handed hitter with a dominant left eye).

Anecdotally, a number of great hitters have been cross-dominant. One study noted that elite baseball players were about twice as likely to be cross-dominant compared to the general population, suggesting a possible selection advantage. The idea is that the front eye has a less obstructed view of the pitcher's release point and the ball's trajectory; if that eye also has better visual acuity or processing (being the dominant eye), the batter might pick up the ball sooner or more clearly. Some coaches thus teach players to turn their head more toward the pitcher to get the dominant eye (if it's the back eye) more involved, or even experiment with batting from the other side (some natural right-handers learn to bat left-handed so that their right eye is forward).

However, scientific studies have found no consistent link between eye dominance and batting success. A 1996 study of 215 pro players in the Southern League found no significant difference in batting averages between same-dominance hitters and cross-dominant hitters. In that sample, about 60% of the batters were same-side dominant, and 40% cross, which roughly matched their overall proportion in the league – and their performance outcomes were similar across the board. The study also looked at fielding and pitching: it found eye dominance didn't correlate with fielding percentage or with pitchers' ERAs either.

What does this mean for practical purposes? Essentially, while having your dominant eye on the pitcher side might feel better for some hitters, it's not a guaranteed boost. The key is for each player to be aware of their own eye dominance and ensure they're getting a good look at the ball. For instance:

• A batter who is right-eye dominant and hits right-handed (same-side) might need to make sure they turn their head enough toward the pitcher so that their right eye is not occluded by their nose or the bill of the helmet. They might slightly adjust their stance or head tilt to achieve this.
• A cross-dominant batter (e.g., left-eye dominant, hitting right) might naturally see well, but they should beware of over-rotating their head. Some cross-dominant hitters actually have to be careful not to let their dominant eye lead them to open up their stance too much too soon.
• For pitchers, some have speculated that a cross-dominant pitcher (e.g., right-handed pitcher, left-eye dominant) might struggle to hit spots because their vision from the mound (with the glove side eye) could affect depth perception to the target. But again, no solid evidence supports a systematic issue. The main consideration is that a pitcher needs to clearly see the target (catcher's glove). Most will naturally turn their head as part of their delivery to ensure their dominant eye can focus on the target just before release.

In fielding, depth perception (using both eyes) is crucial for tracking fly balls and line drives. Fielders typically square up to the ball as they catch it, so eye dominance likely has minimal impact – both eyes are looking straight at the incoming ball by the time the catch is made. If anything, a fielder might favor their dominant eye slightly when judging line drives hit to the side, but this is not something athletes or coaches specifically train for in the field.

Bottom line: Baseball players should be tested for eye dominance so they know it, but they shouldn't worry that being one way or the other is limiting them. As long as a batter or pitcher adjusts their head position to use their best eye while tracking the ball, they can succeed whether they are cross-dominant or not. Many factors (pitch recognition, timing, mechanics) are far more important to hitting than which eye is dominant. Eye dominance is just one piece of the puzzle, and the advantages or disadvantages it confers can be subtle and individual.

Tennis

Tennis and other racquet sports require extremely fast reactions and good spatial awareness. Players are constantly tracking a ball, and switching focus from near (the ball on their racket) to far (the opponent across the net). Eye dominance in tennis can subtly influence a player's technique, especially for stroke production and court positioning.

One notable aspect is that for groundstrokes (forehand and backhand), a cross-dominant player may naturally favor one side. For example, consider a right-handed, left-eye-dominant player (cross-dominant). On the forehand, this player's dominant left eye is leading the way – it has the more direct line to the incoming ball when the head is slightly turned. This can allow for an earlier pickup of the ball and the ability to take big cuts with confidence. In fact, many cross-dominant players develop very powerful forehands, partly because their head positioning and shoulder turn naturally bring the dominant eye into play. Tennis analysts have noted that Roger Federer, who is right-handed but left-eye dominant, keeps his left eye locked on the ball through contact on his forehand and rotates his body such that his left (dominant) eye is really the one tracking the ball during the critical phase of the swing. He tends to hit his forehand with a slightly less "out in front" contact point than some of his peers, which has been attributed to his eye dominance allowing him to still see the ball clearly a hair later in the swing. This contributes to his exceptional timing and control.

On the backhand side (for Federer, a one-handed backhand), being cross-dominant is a bit trickier. His dominant left eye is now the trailing eye when he turns for a backhand. To compensate, Federer and players like him have learned to rotate their head and even their torso more on the backhand to keep that dominant eye on the ball. Federer's backhand technique, for instance, involves a pronounced shoulder turn, but he also keeps his head very still and his left eye (which is now slightly farther from the ball) fixed on it as long as possible. Some coaches advise cross-dominant players to use a more open stance on the backhand (if it's a two-hander) or even consider using a two-handed backhand if their eye dominance makes the one-hander too inconsistent, since with a two-hander you naturally face the ball more, which can favor the off-eye.

For serves, eye dominance can affect how a player times their toss and tracks the ball during the serve motion. A cross-dominant server might use a stance that is a bit more turned away from the target to allow their dominant eye to stay on the ball longer. Again using Federer as an example: he stands so that his back is almost facing the opponent at the start of his serve motion, and as he tosses the ball with his left hand, his body coils but his head lets his left eye stay oriented toward the service box he's aiming for. He tosses slightly over his right side and keeps his eyes up. In contrast, a player like Alexander Zverev (right-handed, right-eye dominant) has a more straightforward stance and tosses more in front of his body, with his head not turned as far – his right eye (dominant) is naturally on the ball without needing to rotate his body as much.

In general play, being aware of eye dominance can help players position for shots. A cross-dominant player might prefer hitting balls on one side of their body because they see it better. Some tennis coaches incorporate eye dominance into drills; for instance, they might feed more balls to a cross-dominant player's weaker visual side to get them to move their head or feet in a way that compensates.

To summarize tennis advice:

• Track the ball with your dominant eye – practically, this means making sure your head is positioned during strokes so that your dominant eye has the clearest view. If you often mishit on one side, check if perhaps your other eye is taking over due to head position.
• Forehands: Cross-dominant players can take advantage of their vision by really coiling and letting the dominant eye lead (which can add power). Same-side dominant players might not need as big a shoulder turn to see the ball well.
• Backhands: Ensure your head isn't preventing the dominant eye from seeing the ball. This might mean a slight tilt or a different stance. Two-handed backhands have the advantage of more square alignment (both eyes more evenly engaged) which can neutralize eye issues.
• Serves and overheads: Always keep your eyes on the toss as long as possible. If you are cross-dominant, you might find it comfortable to angle your stance to favor that eye. If you're same-dominant, a more traditional stance is fine, but make sure not to lose the ball out of your dominant eye during the toss or racket drop.

Many top tennis players have succeeded regardless of eye dominance (note: Rafael Nadal is left-handed but right-eye dominant, which is another cross-dominance situation; he too has a lethal forehand and adjusted backhand). The common thread is they all unconsciously adapt their technique to make the most of their vision. Recreational players can benefit from the same idea: understand your dominant eye and practice keeping it on the ball, or adjust your body positioning until tracking the ball feels natural and you aren't surprised by where it is in your swing.

Golf

Golfers might not realize it, but eye dominance quietly influences aiming and setup in both the full swing and especially in putting. Because golf is a static sport (the ball isn't moving until you hit it), alignment is absolutely critical – and your eyes play tricks on you depending on which one is dominant.

About two-thirds of people are same-side dominant (right-handed and right-eye, etc.) and the remainder are cross-dominant or have no strong dominance. Interestingly, a high proportion of professional golfers are cross-dominant. Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan – all of these legendary players are right-handed golfers who are left-eye dominant. They each found ways to accommodate this:

• Head Positioning: Jack Nicklaus was famous for slightly turning and tilting his head to the right at address, just before he started his backswing. Photographs show that this opened up his stance a bit and positioned his left eye directly over the ball or just behind it. This allowed his left (dominant) eye to have a clear view of the ball and the target line. By doing so, even when he made a big shoulder turn on his backswing, his left eye could still keep the ball in sight longer. Tiger Woods has a similar head motion where he often sets his head a touch behind the ball at address, again likely to favor his left eye.
• Swing Length and Vision: Golfers who are cross-dominant (like John Daly or Phil Mickelson, who is a right-eye dominant person playing left-handed) can get away with very long backswings because their dominant eye stays on the ball despite large head rotation. Daly, for instance, rotates well past parallel, but being cross-dominant, his left eye can still peek at the ball under his extended arms at the top of the swing. This might not be consciously planned, but it works. In contrast, a same-side dominant golfer (say a right-eye dominant, right-handed player) might lose sight of the ball (with the right eye) if they over-rotate their head, which is one reason many of them have shorter, more compact swings or they let their head come up sooner in the follow-through. Players like Annika Sörenstam or David Duval, who are right-eye dominant, are known for facing the target sooner (their head turns through impact) – effectively, they don't keep looking at where the ball was for too long after contact. This is sometimes coached as a fault (the old "keep your head down" adage), but in their case it may be an adaptation to let their dominant eye start tracking the target early and not fight their natural tendencies.
• Aiming and Alignment: Perhaps the most tangible impact of eye dominance for golfers is how they align putts and shots. When you stand over the ball, if your dominant eye is not the one directly over the target line, your perception of where the target is can be skewed. A right-handed, right-eye dominant golfer looking down at a putt often sees the line as slightly left of where it really is because the right eye is set back from the line – this is a parallax effect. The fix can be to adjust posture: many such players will set up with the ball a little forward (just under their left eye) and maybe open their stance slightly so that the right eye moves more over the line. Conversely, a cross-dominant golfer (right-handed, left-eye) naturally has their left eye over the line when in a normal stance, so they often don't need to open their stance for putting – they see the line more accurately with a square stance. Some coaches will actually check which eye is dominant when doing putter fitting or alignment practice. They might have a golfer drop a ball from their dominant eye to see where it lands relative to their setup; ideally, it should hit near the ball on the ground. If it doesn't, an adjustment in stance or ball position is made.
• Intermediate Targets: As a workaround for alignment issues, all golfers (especially those whose dominant eye is the back eye) are taught to pick an intermediate target (a leaf or divot a few feet in front of the ball on the target line) and align the clubface to that, since focusing on something with both eyes squarely is easier from behind the ball. This routine helps negate eye-dominance skew when you set up to the ball, because you've already aligned accurately from a position where your eyes were directly in line with the target (behind the ball).
• Putting Practice: Eye dominance is also why you hear some putting coaches say things like "for right-eye-dominant players, it's okay if your eyes aren't directly over the ball." There used to be a teaching that everyone's eyes should be over the ball for putting (to see the line correctly). But now we know if you're right-eye dominant and stand with eyes over the ball, your right eye is actually a bit inside the line, which could mess up perception. Such players might stand a tad farther from the ball so that the dominant right eye is slightly inside, giving a truer perspective. Meanwhile, left-eye dominant players often do better with eyes right over or even just outside the ball/line, because their left eye will then be roughly on the line or slightly inside, giving them a correct view.
• Famous Cross-Dominant Pros: It's often cited in golf literature that a majority of the best putters were cross-dominant. Tiger and Nicklaus are prime examples – they both have talked about their keen sense of reading greens and aligning putts, which could be helped by their left-eye dominance (as that eye sees the target line more directly when they tilt their head). There are, of course, great same-side dominant putters too, but they might have idiosyncratic setups to account for it.

For the full swing, the effect of eye dominance is subtle but present. It might influence how a player sets up their posture or how they initiate the takeaway (some coaches say a left-eye dominant, right-handed golfer will start the takeaway differently, perhaps slightly inside, because of how they visualize the swing plane). These things are hard to measure, but the underlying message is: if you struggle with consistent contact or alignment in golf, consider your eyes. It could be as simple as moving your head until the ball looks "right" to you. The correct head position likely correlates with allowing your dominant eye to take charge.

In conclusion, golfers should determine their dominant eye and experiment with setup adjustments accordingly. Many training aids and drills (like the closing-one-eye test during putting practice, or using alignment sticks and lasers) are available to ensure what you think you're seeing lines up with reality. By catering to their eye dominance, golfers can improve their aim and consistency, shaving strokes off their game through better alignment and focus.

Billiards / Pool

In billiards, pool, and snooker – sports that demand precise aiming of a cue stick – eye dominance is a well-known factor. Players often talk about being "left-eyed" or "right-eyed" in how they line up shots. Because you have to get your vision, cue, and target object ball all in line, knowing which eye is providing the primary visual guidance can explain why some alignments feel comfortable and others don't.

Ideally, you want your dominant eye right over the cue when you take a shot. This way, the cue, the target, and your line of sight are in the same plane, minimizing parallax error. If your head is shifted such that your non-dominant eye is the one looking straight down the cue, you might perceive the aimpoint incorrectly, even if the mechanics feel okay. This can cause those frustrating misses where you say, "I swore I was lined up right, but I still hit wide."

Players who ignore eye dominance often experience inconsistent aim and have trouble figuring out why. For instance, a common tell is a player who consistently misses to one side on straight shots. That often means their head (and eyes) were not truly centered over the shot line – perhaps their dominant eye was off to the side, leading them to unknowingly aim a bit askew every time.

To find the right alignment, players use a few techniques:

• Center of Vision Drill: Stand as if to shoot and bring the cue up to your face (not while actually taking a shot, but as a test). With both eyes open, adjust until the cue appears as a single straight line centered in your vision, not a double image or off to one side. The spot where it looks correct is where your personal "center of vision" lies for aiming. It might be directly under your dominant eye or somewhere between your eyes. This is the head position you want to replicate when you actually take a shot.
• Dominant Eye Alignment: Many players simply ensure that their stance is set so that the dominant eye is over the cue. For example, a right-handed, right-eye dominant player might drop their chin directly over the cue or even slightly favor the right side of the cue. A right-handed, left-eye dominant player might have their head a bit more to the left of the cue. If you ever watch snooker great Ronnie O'Sullivan, he is left-eye dominant and actually plays left-handed – so his dominant left eye can be right over the cue. Pool player Shane Van Boening, on the other hand, is right-handed and right-eye dominant, and you can see his right eye is directly over his cue as he sets up.
• Eye-Shift Test: One can also get down on a shot, line it up as usual, then close one eye at a time. If closing one eye doesn't move the apparent alignment of the cue on the object ball, that eye was the one already in line. If closing an eye causes things to "jump," that was the eye being used to aim. Ideally, when you blink your non-dominant eye, nothing should change in your picture – meaning your dominant eye was doing the work.

Importantly, some players are nearly central-eyed, meaning they don't have a strong dominance or they have trained themselves to use both. These individuals might align down the center of their chin. That's fine if it works for them. But for most, there is a benefit in favoring the dominant eye.

If you discover a mismatch (for example, you're right-eye dominant but tend to set up left of the cue), it can be fixed by adjusting your stance – often by moving your head and maybe your grip alignment slightly. It might feel weird at first, but with practice it usually becomes comfortable. The payoff is that those baffling misses start to disappear as your cue now travels on the true line of aim you are seeing.

Overall, consistency in alignment is critical in billiards. By using your dominant eye properly, you eliminate one big variable. Many instruction sources emphasize this as a foundational skill: find your vision center and always set up your shots the same way relative to it. This will let you trust that when you see a shot as lined up, it really is lined up.

Darts

Throwing darts at a dartboard is another activity that seems straightforward but can be subtly affected by which eye is aiming the dart. In darts, you stand at the oche (throw line) and usually align the dart under your dominant eye as you sight the target (whether consciously or not). If you're using the "wrong" eye, you might consistently miss certain shots in the same way due to a parallax error.

For example, a right-handed player who is left-eye dominant might, without adjustment, hold the dart toward the center of their face or even left of center so that their left eye can line it up. If they instead held it fully under their right eye (which is not as good at aiming for them), they'd likely misjudge the target's position and miss right or left consistently. Many casual darters are unaware of this and just know they "miss left a lot" or similar – sometimes it's an eye dominance issue.

The solution in darts is to adjust your stance and dart positioning to your dominant eye:

• If you are cross-dominant (e.g., right hand, left eye), you may benefit from standing a bit off-center to the right of the throw line and/or turning your head slightly until your left eye is better aligned with the bullseye or target segment. This might mean your right shoulder is a touch farther back. The goal is that when you lift the dart to aim, your left eye is the one looking straight down your arm at the target.
• Some pro players with cross-dominance compensate by bringing the dart towards their center or lower during the draw, so that the dominant eye can see the target without obstruction. For instance, players like Michael Smith and Adrian Lewis (both reported to have opposite eye dominance) have very fluid, slightly lower dart draws that keep their line of sight clear. Others, like Stephen Bunting, stand noticeably to one side at the oche to get the right visual angle.
• If you're same-side dominant (right hand, right eye), you want to ensure your stance isn't too sideways such that your right eye is actually behind. You might stand a bit more face-on or simply be mindful to sight with the right eye.
• A quick test for darters is to do the "point your thumb" test (as described in many eye dominance drills) using a dart: Hold the dart up, point it at the bull with both eyes open, then close each eye to see which one was actually aligning the dart. That should be your dominant (or "aiming") eye. Use that knowledge to adjust where you hold the dart and how you stand.

It's interesting to note that while archers and marksmen are taught to use their dominant eye, darts is a bit more free-form – some players naturally discover an adjustment that works for them even if they never explicitly identified their dominant eye. The consistency of their throws is what matters. One study indicated that overall, being cross or same dominant didn't make a huge difference in scores once players had adapted their technique. This suggests that as long as you find a way to line yourself up properly, you can excel either way.

If you're struggling with accuracy in darts, especially if one particular miss keeps happening (like always missing to the left of what you aimed for), it's worth checking your eye dominance and experimenting. Try moving left or right along the line a few inches, or angle differently, to see if your grouping tightens up when your dominant eye is in charge. Because darts relies on a lot of hand-eye coordination and less on depth perception (distance is fixed), you might even close one eye to aim as a training exercise to see the difference. Most will find keeping both eyes open but positioning correctly is best for long-term consistency.

---

Bibliography and References

View All Sources