After learning about the safety rules for firearm handling (If you don't know the safety rules go back to the first lesson in this series) it's time to figure out one of the most fundamental tenant of shooting; determining which eye is dominant. You probably already know which hand is dominant, left or right, however, many people have not tested their eyes to check which one is dominant.
The reason why this is so important is because you will use your dominant eye to aim and shoot. For the most part, right handed people will be right eye dominant, and vice versa. Very few people will be ambidextrous. Some people will be right hand dominant and left eye dominant (cross-eye dominant), that may create problems if the shooter doesn't know which eye is dominant. Here is a simple test to determine which eye is dominant:
1) Extend both hands forward of your body and place the hands together making a small triangle between your thumbs and the first knuckle.
With both eyes open, look through the triangle and center it on a object 5-10 feet away.
The second step can be done in two ways:
2a) Close your left eye. If the object remains in view, you are right eye dominant. If closing your right eye keeps the object in view, you are left eye dominant.
2b) While holding the object in the center of the triangle, slowly bring your hand-made triangle to your face. The triangle should end up right in front of your dominant eye.
Simple right? If you find out that you're cross-eye dominant there are ways to work with your condition. One way is to adjust your head and stance to align you dominant eye to your dominant hand. Another is to shoot with your dominant hand and aim with your non-dominant eye or vice versa. We will discuss this in detail in future posts. Thanks and stay DOMINANT!