Using Eye Dominance Information in Sports

Eye dominance – whether one is strongly left-eye dominant, strongly right-eye dominant, or relatively central/neutral – can significantly influence aiming and performance in sports that require precise alignment. Once an athlete knows their dominant eye, they can make informed decisions about stance, equipment, and technique. This guide examines how to apply known eye dominance to improve performance in shotgun sports, archery, and golf.

Shotgun Sports: Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays

In shotgun disciplines, shooters typically keep both eyes open for a wide field of view and depth perception. The dominant eye should ideally be the one aligned down the barrel; if not, the shooter's aim can be misled.

Understanding Dominance Issues

Matched eye dominance (dominant eye on the same side as the gun mount) usually allows the shotgun to "shoot where you look" with proper form[1].

Cross-eye dominance (e.g., a right-handed shooter with a left dominant eye) often causes the "wrong" eye to take over the sighting, leading to misalignment. Such shooters might see the side of the barrel instead of the bead when both eyes are open, resulting in consistent misses to one side[1]. Common clues include a tendency to tilt the head or close one eye to get the dominant eye behind the gun[2].

Central or neutral dominance (no clearly dominant eye) can make aiming inconsistent; the sighting eye might switch at times, unless one eye is intentionally favored[2][3].

Handedness vs. Eye Dominance: Decision Matrix

Shooter Profile	Implications and Recommended Approach
Right-handed, Right-eye dominant (strong)	Matched dominance. Gun aligns naturally under the dominant right eye. Depth perception is maximized with both eyes open. Ensure proper gun mount and head position so the right eye stays over the rib. Little or no correction needed aside from normal fundamentals[1].
Right-handed, Left-eye dominant (strong cross-dominant)	Cross-dominance issue. The gun on right shoulder is under the non-dominant eye, while the left eye "wants" to aim[1][3]. This often causes the shooter to miss off-target despite the sight picture looking "good". Options: Switch shoulders – Learn to shoot left-handed so the left (dominant) eye is over the barrel. This yields proper alignment but requires substantial retraining and left-handed equipment[1]. Occlude or suppress the dominant eye – Place translucent tape or a "magic dot" on the left lens of shooting glasses to block that eye's view of the front sight[1][3], or briefly wink/close the left eye at the moment of firing. This forces the right eye to take over aim without fully losing peripheral vision. Use optical aids – Special sights or differently tinted lenses (darker lens over the dominant eye) to give the non-dominant eye an advantage[1]. A right-hander with left-eye dominance might wear a significantly darker lens on the left side and a light lens on the right.
Right-handed, Central or neutral dominance	Potentially ambiguous alignment. The shooter should choose one eye to function as primary. Often the eye on the same side as the gun (right eye for a right-hander) is designated as the "shooting eye" and treated like cross-dominance on the other side: use a small piece of tape or blinder to diminish the opposite eye's input[2]. The amount of occlusion can be minimal – just enough to cue the brain to favor the desired eye. Field-test first: if the shooter can break targets with both eyes open and no dominance problems, no change is needed[2].
Left-handed, Left-eye dominant (strong)	Matched dominance (left-side). Mirror of a right/right scenario. A left-handed shooter with a strong left eye will naturally align the gun correctly on their left shoulder. They should shoot with both eyes open for maximum field of view and depth judgment. No special modifications necessary.
Left-handed, Right-eye dominant (strong cross-dominant)	Cross-dominance (mirror image). Similar solutions apply: switch to right-handed shooting, continue left-handed but block or close the right eye as needed, or use specialized equipment adjustments like an offset rib or differently colored lenses[1][3].
Left-handed, Central or neutral dominance	No clear dominance (lefty). Same considerations as the right-handed neutral case apply. The shooter should ideally make one eye "in charge" of aiming. Often that means encouraging the left eye (for a left-hander) by slightly obstructing the right eye's input[2]. Consistency is the goal – ensure the same eye is used for every shot.

Key Considerations

Why both eyes? In shotgun sports, depth perception and wide field of view are crucial. Closing one eye is a quick fix for cross-dominance, but it comes at the cost of slower target acquisition and impaired judgment of distance and speed[1]. For this reason, many coaches prefer solutions that preserve binocular vision (like semi-transparent dots or adaptive lenses) over full occlusion.

Go slow with fixes: Instructors emphasize not rushing into eye dominance fixes without confirmation. A small percentage of cross-dominant or center-dominant shooters can actually shoot very well with both eyes open and no intervention[2]. Coaches often recommend evaluating the shooter's performance before prescribing a change, then proceeding cautiously.

Common adjustment methods: The use of a semi-transparent "dot" or tape on glasses over the dominant eye is popular. This blurring or blocking of the dominant eye only at the critical alignment angle forces the other eye to take over for aiming while retaining peripheral vision[1][3]. Another approach is wearing mismatched lens tints (darker filter over the dominant eye), which can subtly subordinate one eye while preserving depth cues[1].

Archery

In archery, aiming is extremely eye-dependent. Standard coaching advice is to match your shooting side to your dominant eye whenever possible[4]. For cross-dominant archers (about 25% of people), two main approaches exist:

Option 1: Use the Dominant Eye

Many instructors argue that the eye is more crucial for accuracy, so a cross-dominant beginner should learn to shoot on the side of their dominant eye, even if it means using the non-dominant hand[4][5]. This puts the dominant eye directly behind the arrow. Starting this way avoids visual complications later, as switching sides after years of practice is very challenging.

Option 2: Use the Dominant Hand

The alternate approach is to let the archer shoot with their natural hand preference and compensate for the cross-dominant eye by blocking or subduing it during aiming[4]. This typically involves closing the dominant eye or using a blinder/eye patch. Many target archers use a small flip-down translucent blinder that blocks the dominant eye's view while still allowing light in.

Central Dominance

For neutral-dominant archers, coaches often default to handedness first and watch for any eye dominance problems during initial lessons[5]. If inconsistencies appear, the remedy is to decide on one eye and use a patch or close an eye to ensure only that eye is used for aiming.

Golf

Eye dominance in golf plays a subtle but important role in alignment, swing dynamics, and putting performance[6][7].

Alignment Challenges

Same-side dominant golfers (e.g., right-handed and right-eye dominant) may face alignment issues. When turning to look at the target, the dominant eye can be partially blocked by the nose, causing unconscious compensation through body rotation[6]. This can lead to misalignment without the golfer realizing it.

Cross-dominant golfers have an advantage here – their lead eye has a clear line of sight to the target without obstruction[6][7]. Studies suggest about 85% of PGA Tour players are cross-dominant[8].

Swing Dynamics

Cross-dominant players often find it easier to make full shoulder turns while maintaining visual contact with the ball[7]. Same-side dominant players may prefer more compact backswings to avoid losing sight of the ball with their dominant eye.

Putting

Golf vision specialists recommend positioning the ball slightly forward of your dominant eye when putting[9]. This ensures you're viewing the line primarily with your dominant eye, reducing distortion. Cross-dominant putters often have a natural advantage in green reading and alignment.