I’m a single lady who decided at age 36 this year I needed to finally learn about shooting & get a shotgun. Thank you. Going to try to go to the range tomorrow morning & do these drills, yep by myself! Your videos are so helpful & gave me confidence. I can do this.
Meeee too! I’m so grateful for the knowledge that’s out here. Glad I stopped saying I wanna learn and now I am. Being intentional with your life and what you learn 👏🏽
@Mfh787 🤔 I think you mean something like I’m trying to flirt by your comment? I’m not sure. I meant it as a female who has no one else to teach her, it can be intimidating at first & challenging… not a pitty party for myself either, I overcame so I could protect my family & myself if ever need to.
Don’t pay no mind to him. You don’t. This was a fantastic video. You can make a lot of good friends at a trap range. Especially if they have a club. They have females clubs and I’m sure you’ll find that anyone at the local range is down to help. Gun folks are good folks. Just talk to the right ones. Start by talkin to the peeps behind the counter. If it’s a good range they can point you in the right directions. Good on you. Enjoy your trigger time.
Impressive video I am 46 years old. I’ve been hunting and shooting since I was six. I am not ashamed to say this video has enlighten me on a lot of techniques. Great instructions
i wonder how rare that is vice versa do yall practice doing it the right way? I’m RH RED luckily but i do try some of his whacky trick shots only thing i cant hit is the behind the back
Best trick for cross-eye-dominance is a L shaped rail on the rib to block the bead view from your outboard eye. Meadows Industries makes some inexpensive options; I made my own, attach with 3m double sided tape. I know Steve hates a fiber sight on a shotgun but it really helps if you are cross-eye dominant and are using a rib rail. You basically use the view in your peripheral vision that has the bead in it, since you know the only eye that can see the bead is the one over the rib.
I am a right handed shooter, left eye dominant. When I mount the gun I see two sight pictures down the barrel. I know the left sight picture is the correct one so thats what I focus on and it lets me shoot birds without any problems with both eyes open.
A tip is to wear glasses with a red dot on your left eye(or whatever eye is not the same as your gun-shooting hand). I had to wear one for a while because I was really struggling with double vision (I am only slightly left-eye dominant, and I shoot left-handed just because it is more comfortable, shooting the right side is weird for me, even using Nerf guns I shot left-handed before even knowing that was a thing). I eventually got over it but a simple piece of red tape or even red sharpe on normal tape or red sharpe directly on cheap glasses is what I did before my coach gave me a red dot to put on my glasses. Usually after shooting you will get over it, but if you don't a red dot helps a lot and doesn't obscure vision at all, my brain just ignored the red.
Me too. I just slightly squint my left eye but still keep it open. That makes my brain focus on the right eye because it has a complete picture but I can still see birds from my left eye. Just not as clear as if my left eye were open completely or especially if I were right eye dominant.
I am Left handed/Right eye dominant, and shooting with the gun in my left hand got me 1/25 clays the first time, and 2/25 on the second time shooting. Not fun. I didn't shoot again, as it all didn't feel "right." Now, 6 months later, after reading this, I'm going to dry practice in my home, now switching to my Right hand, and see if, after hours of practice, I get some muscle memory, and I'll then to to the range with the "pearls" of shooting that you taught in this video. Thank you!!!
Shot right handed for 40 years before I figured out I was left eye dominant and right handed. Once I finally figured out I was left eye dominant I fought if for years with all the tricks, tape etc. Some days it worked, some days it didn't. Bit the bullet and got a left handed shot gun. After some seriously awkward outings things have finally gotten better. Probably took about 300+ rounds to start to feel good. So happy I stopped fighting it and made the change.
I am left handed and right eye dominant. I switched from shooting left to right and in September at my ATA shoot shot a 97 with my first ever 75 in a row. I have shot right handed for 2 years now.
Greetings from Greece This is the best tutorial video i've ever watched on you tube about shooting a shotgun. All the basics in 16 minutes. Everybody should watch this video. Congratulations you are the best
I'm turning 70 and always shot right-handed and my dominant eye was also my right. Unfortunately, around 8 years ago my optic nerve died during a stroke. I haven't picked up a rifle or shotgun since. I've just ordered one. I have to learn to shoot left-handed and left-eyed. I was going to look for a video with this subject and accidentally clicked this one. That was lucky.
Great information for my situation. A little over a year and a half ago I suffered an ocular stroke in my right eye. I am naturally right handed and was right eye dominant. During the time since I have converted to left hand shooting and predominantly shoot over and under shotguns. My trap scores are improving but I picked up several tips in your video that I think will help. I usually shoot a Beretta Silver Pigeon or my Browning Cynergy Classic. I believe I need to practice my mount by going first to my face and then the shoulder. It is coming along, but 70+ years of bad habits are hard to break. Starting over on the left side I have an opportunity to begin anew by developing good habits. Thanks, I really enjoyed your video!!!
Fantastic summary! This video should be obligate for new shooters before buying a shotgun or even shoot one. And even for advanced shooters it brings benefits. Great job, well done.
Great video. I hunt for six years and in the beginning I've been practicing with three diffrent instructors on a shooting range. None of them checked wich eye is dominant, none of them told me to keep both eyes opened. After writing this comment I take my shotgun and practice at home. Greetings from Poland!
I have been considering getting a shotgun and have tried shooting the same without much success. Your vid has explained the why! I think now that I'm armed with such good info I can begin to learn the process. Your thoughts on how it differs from rifle shooting makes perfect sense! Thanks for your most excellent teaching!
This video is fantastic!! I cant thank you enough for it. I started getting some bad habits out bird hunting to the point my shot was completely gone. Re watched this video a few times to get back to the basics and this last weekend I dropped way more than I have in the last few seasons. Felt the love for the hunt again. Crazy how a few simple adjustments can cause you to either hit or miss. I even passed some of the tips to my dad whose been hunting his entire life and even he was saying wow I've never thought of those things before. Brilliant video is an understatement.
Great information, glad I found your channel. I just went sporting clay shooting for the first time last month, limited success, but really enjoyed it. I feel much more comfortable shooting and mounting a shotgun lefty than I do righty, just feels much more "natural" for me. I have always been a righty as an athlete, hockey golf baseball soccer etc, (except billiards lefty), but I write and eat lefty. My right eye seems to be the dominant. So as you can see I am all over the place. I will take your advice and practice dry mounting from both sides, its seems to be the most important tip you keep coming back to. Thanks again I'll let you know how I progress.
Right handed ,Left eye, dominant here. This guy is spot on in everything he is saying, Very important info when shot gunning. Yes the tape works , However shooting left handed on a shotgun really gets easy after a few days of practice. I have to shoot shotguns and some scoped rifles Left handed While other scoped rifles I just use see through mounts to get the scope higher , and get my eye into place . Hand gun Left eye right eye don't have much of a role since you can easily move to left or right eye. Those of you who think you cant shotgun other handed its cause you haven't tried
Well you taught me a few things that I will put into practice. I started hunting late in life, unfortunately no one really showed how to shoot a shotgun. Your videos are a huge help. Can’t wait to try your tips out. Thanks
I have been away from this sport for 22 years and recently spent the day shooting sporting clays with a friend using his spare 12 g "home defense shotgun" as my firearm. He used his semi auto Benelli shotgun and, obviously, out shot me. I used to own a beautiful Browning Citori in 16 gauge that I used to compete with and have since sold it. One of the things I realized is that, as a life long rifle shooter, I had become sight focused and this caused me to miss some of the clays that came from the outer areas at obtuse angles. I just purchased a new Mossberg 940 JM Pro and will pick it up this week. I am looking forward to applying these training techniques to "remember" the competitive clay shooter I used to be. Thank you for this and your other series. I have enjoyed your gun comparisons and actually purchased my 940 JM Pro from Reeds as a result. They had the most competitive price and stock combo. Additionally, they were offering a special that gave me a free case of ammo with the purchase. Thank you again.
Right hand, left eye dominate with bum left shoulder. Always an issue. Mostly just use the tape on glasses. Helps a great deal. Place it just outside pupil and when mount gun, right eye takes over. Thanks for great video.
Brilliant Steve! Love your work, especially the importance of keeping both eyes open to utilise our binocular vision. Catching a ball is another example I’ve used to emphasise that shooting / leading a moving target should be more of an instinct rather than a calculation.
💯% I would not want to catch a football or baseball with one eye closed...so hard to react correctly. I scratched my cornea in a football game in high school and that made it extremely tough. I had over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns but I also dropped a couple very catchable balls.
I'm in my 50s and found out very late, in my late 20s how to check for eye dominance. I couldn't understand how I was missing so many birds and clay targets. Found out i am left eye dominate and shoot right-handed. I take a small strip of first aid tape across my shooting glasses where my vision is only obstructed when I go to shoot. Has greatly improved my shooting ratio and birds in the bag. I am more confident in my shooting and am more patient when pulling the trigger. Less missed birds
Your Video on the how to mount the shotgun to the face first and not to the shoulder first is the best explanation on the correct way to to get the shot gun over the correct position. I an heading out the the range today and I am going to use that technique. Thank You. Just as a suggestion I having a problem in knowing where to focus the on the target. I will let you know how I do on the range when I get back home. Again you are the only one who explained how to mount the shot gun and how to get the correct position with the gun mounted. I feel that I can improve my shooting with both eyes open I have only been using one eye for YEARS Again thank you.
My middle boy kept saying the gun felt weird to shoot right handed and I just brushed it off til I let him try shooting left handed and he said that felt way better even though he is right handed. So now he just shoots left handed and that gives me an excuse to buy more guns! God Bless!
@@TargetFocusedLife he is 8, I felt really bad after we figured out the whole left eye dominant thing cuz I pushed the right hand thing pretty hard, I had no idea it was real til we googled it and then I believe you did a video talking about it last summer sometime which really helped!
I am left handed so it was natural when I was a kid to shoot left handed. When I was about 14, I joined a small bore rifle league and my instructor noted my head was leaning way over the stock of the gun when shooting. I was unconsciously using my dominant right eye while shooting left handed. They switched me over to shooting right handed. It put me way behind the other shooters, but I am glad in the long run they corrected the problem.
Solid. When you switch sides more often than not you will go backwards for w bit. That is why most don't want to switch. Gotta play the long game 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
You helped me so much!!! I am used to rifle hunting turkey and target shooting with pistol. This has been challenging switching for me to bird hunting and clay shooting. You said some key things that really helped me. Thank you so much! God bless ya!!!
I shot right handed for over 20 years, including weekly trap league. I had two fingers amputated on my right hand and switched to my left hand. It took a couple years, but it was not a big deal. And, I discovered I am left eye dominant.
I'm cross dominant (right handed, left eye dominant), my shooting coach in college just did the tape trick on my glasses and my shooting immediately improved, and I've just always done it that way since. I could try shooting lefty, but man it just feels so weird!!
Thank you Steve! Such a helpful video. Being what they call a “late onset hunter” it’s been hard finding folks willing to put in the time to teach a new hunter. I’ve found your videos so helpful for being a new hunter and trying to learn as much as I can on my own time. Thank you for all your knowledge on teaching a new shooter and new hunter!
@@TargetFocusedLife thanks for the reply! I’m trying to learn as much as I can before the start of turkey season to hopefully do some turkey hunting. Went duck hunting a couple times before the season closed. End goal I would love to get into big game like deer and elk.
Wish i checked these out before going trap shooting for the first time haha. Rifle and pistol shooting for better part of 2 decades... and it was a very humbling experience haha
Best shootng education and advive ever for a person like me. You helped me more than you can imagine! I am RH'd and left eye dominant. In addition my eyes do not play well together (no stereoopsys). I very seldom, almost never comment. In your case I have to say, God Bless and Thank You!.
I am constantly amazed that most experts make cross eye dominant shooters feel second class and doomed to mediocrity. I felt the same until I read about Nora Ross. She shoots with one eye closed, holds low on the house, and has won everything worth winning. It just seems crazy to me that so much of our sport gives up on the overwhelming number of the 28% of people who are cross eye dominant and who can't switch shooting arms or succeed with patches. Just think of how much bigger the sport could be (and how many more shotguns and ammo would be sold) if we/you just encouraged cross eye dominant people to be ok with one eye closed. Happy Holidays to all!
I’ve been hoping for a how to shoot video, thank you! I’m left eye dominate, right hand dominate. I’m going to make the switch and pick up the new left handed SX4 then hit the range all off season. Thanks again, God bless!
I got lasik and I don't have a dominant eye anymore. I use one of those clear plastic stick-on punched hole protectors for 3 hole paper (so the holes don't tear). I just stick it to the inside of my sun glasses. you can still see through the middle, but it obscures anything off center (like a sight lined up with the other eye). I can squint and do fine too, shooting with one eye is better than shooting with a cross eye dominance.
Very enjoyable video! I always enjoy the wisdom you share. I have had some mysterious misses and struggles shooting both eyes open. I come up right eye dominant with the finger test, but the other test doesn’t even make sense to my eyes. I have noticed my dominance switches back and forth depending on distance! Per my shooting instructor I started shooting with scotch tape over my left lenses and shooting right handed. I went from shooting 7 out of 25 to consistently hitting 20-25 out of 25 very quickly. The tape method really truly works, and because my eyes switch dominance it makes more sense than switching sides. It’s a very simple but affective way to improve.
Hey, Steve. I personally would love to see a video on how to toss clays with your hands from like 1 clay to 6-7 clays. I have searched and searched but to no avail. There aren't any videos on hand tossing clays and most certainly with no instructions. Thanks!
I like when you said to the camera that your clear before aiming the gun. Part of me wanted to duck anyway. Great video too! really informative but not to in-depth or boring at all. Definitely taking a roll of tape with me though, great tips.
I shoot left handed with rifle and shotgun. I shoot my pistols right hand. Always have. I'm right handed with a dominant left eye. Been shooting for over 50 years. Wind, humidity and elevation all affect performance.
I’m left handed and right eye dominant. Shot left handed my whole life until I figure out eye dominance. Once I switched hands, I was equal between hands within a couple range trips
THANK YOU VERY MUCH...VERY CLEAR WAY TO TEACH THIS BEAUTIFUL SHOOTING SPORT. I USED TO SHOOT RIFLES MANY YEARS AGO AND NOW I'M NEW TO CLAY SHOOTING TARGETS. I HAVE CROSS DOMINANT EYE.
Super informative. Been dealing with eye dominance forever. I use a dark eye protection lense on my left eye with a yellow or orange on my right to help compensate. I've seen signifiant improvement with thay system without the tape or dot solution (although I did have to buy more expensive eye protection - I believe it Walker Eye Pro). The mount to cheek/eye before shoulder is super helpful. I'll be working on that before this bird season starts.
Great job, and now I have a lot of work (Practise) to do! Im classified as a high master at 600 yards but now I need to readjust to shotgun shooting! Thanks
I think that I don’t have a dominant eye. Sometimes it seems like my left eye is dominant, but sometimes it seems like it’s right. I’m also right handed. Should I shoot on my right side?
WOW. The baseball and basketball analogies were spot on. While watching your video I kept swinging my straight arm and stopping on objects in the room. So simple, now just need to learn to do it with a shotgun. I'm still aiming right before trigger pull.
I’m just starting out in sporting clays. My Mossberg has 2 beads. I close one eye and make sure I’m lined up correctly after mounting the gun, then open the other eye before saying pull. It seems to help.
Sound advice. I’m gonna take all this out to the field again. Used to shoot 21-24 on the trap range and get birds. Bought a beretta that started out meh and now I hate it. Miss the high rib of my 870. can’t hit S with this stupid Italian paperweight. Gonna use this advice to figure out my life. Thanks for the vid!
Being left eye dominant and right hand dominant I’ve always shot right handed it felt natural somehow I think I’ve switched eye dominance or at least my brain ignores my left eye when I’m shooting I don’t see double or anything like that my eye aligns perfectly.
I'm a RH shooter and left eye dominate. My question is this: If I'm not supposed to "aim" the shotgun, why does it matter what side I mount the gun on? I do shoot a left-handed bow, but that's because I'm aiming at a fixed target.
This video was awesome!! If I would have watched this before I took up the sport 5 years ago, I would have gotten better a lot quicker than what I did.
I started shooting a shotgun at 58 (and haven't done much of it yet). I've shot rifles and handguns for decades, but fortunately, I've always shot everything with both eyes open. My brain simply ignores the eye that's not in the sight line -- and while I have a lot of trouble with the "point" drill for dominant eye checking (I see two fingers every time), when I raise a pistol or rifle I see only the sight picture. The little shotgun shooting I've done I find myself with both eyes open, but missing because the gun (870 Express) isn't getting to the correct lead in time. More practice should help a lot (I hope). Seeing the lead is going to be key for me, I think...
Steve, thanks from across the pond in the UK. A great video that explains eye dominance better than nearly all the other vids I've seen up to now & well presented. Many thanks.
Definitely cross dominate and really never thought of it before as an issue.. shoot right but left eye dominate.. just started mounting left handed and shooting and wow what a difference! Amazing now when I point at something I shoot it lol
I find your videos helpful. I just started wing shooting (at age 76). I have never shot clay targets but plan to so I might be able to have a more successful outing My question is do progressive glasses impact one’s ability to shoot skeet well?
First couple hundred rounds trying to shoot clay I was terrible hit maybe 2out of 10 set. Finally an instructor suggested try left handed first set got 10 out of 10. I shoot ambi I have several right handed guns and a few left-handed guns. For me shooting a flying target I have to do it left handed, stationary doesn't matter as much.
Another great video as usual. Would like to see a video on your analysis of the type (Not Brand) of gun (Barrel Length, Gauge, and Types) for beginners to Sport Shooting. What gun works best and what does not.
I shot RH for 55 years being left eye dominate. (Closed the left eye just before the shot) I shot very well. Then decided to switch to LH, many shots later and lots of mounting practice later I shoot left just fine. Odd thing is I can shoot RH both eyes open just fine now.
Thank you!!! More like this please along with your regular content!!! I look forward to all your videos!! How about different methods of swinging the gun, swing through, pull away, maintained lead , and when to use
Have been instructing since 2008. Some people cannot shoot with 2 eyes open. I can't as being right eye dom and right handed if i use two eyes open my left eye will take over most of the time and i see left side of barrel. Have tried 2 eyes for years.
Being cross-dominant myself & shooting on the wrong side for well over half a century now ( 😡 grrr ); I’ve found that a side by side double works best for me. The fatty lower portion of your thumb on the forearm grip somewhat obscures vision in the dominant eye helping to shift dominance to the eye over the rib. Perhaps with a tiny bit of squinting, I can keep both eyes open for the shot. 110% behind Steve though…change now to your dominant side, while you still can…
Best shotgun channel on UA-cam!
By far!!
Wow, thank you! You are so kind.
What l have done to my shotgun to align my eyes down the gun barrel is to dip out the gunstock I throw my head over the gun stock
Agreed!
I’m a single lady who decided at age 36 this year I needed to finally learn about shooting & get a shotgun. Thank you. Going to try to go to the range tomorrow morning & do these drills, yep by myself! Your videos are so helpful & gave me confidence. I can do this.
Meeee too! I’m so grateful for the knowledge that’s out here. Glad I stopped saying I wanna learn and now I am. Being intentional with your life and what you learn 👏🏽
Single 36 lady wow great news and identification that we care about in here
@Mfh787 🤔 I think you mean something like I’m trying to flirt by your comment? I’m not sure. I meant it as a female who has no one else to teach her, it can be intimidating at first & challenging… not a pitty party for myself either, I overcame so I could protect my family & myself if ever need to.
@@angelicacornejo1800 same here! Often the toughest part is taking the 1st step.
Don’t pay no mind to him. You don’t. This was a fantastic video. You can make a lot of good friends at a trap range. Especially if they have a club. They have females clubs and I’m sure you’ll find that anyone at the local range is down to help. Gun folks are good folks. Just talk to the right ones. Start by talkin to the peeps behind the counter. If it’s a good range they can point you in the right directions. Good on you. Enjoy your trigger time.
Impressive video I am 46 years old. I’ve been hunting and shooting since I was six. I am not ashamed to say this video has enlighten me on a lot of techniques. Great instructions
16 mins of PURE GOLD!!!! Thank you! Im right handed with my left eye being the dominant one.....
Same
i wonder how rare that is vice versa
do yall practice doing it the right way?
I’m RH RED luckily but i do try some of his whacky trick shots only thing i cant hit is the behind the back
Same. Doesn't matter much when I shoot my pistol, but shotgun I feel so confused lol. I'm trying the tape trick
Same, but I also recently had surgery on left shoulder so I can’t use a left mount. Gonna have to stick with right for now
Best trick for cross-eye-dominance is a L shaped rail on the rib to block the bead view from your outboard eye. Meadows Industries makes some inexpensive options; I made my own, attach with 3m double sided tape. I know Steve hates a fiber sight on a shotgun but it really helps if you are cross-eye dominant and are using a rib rail. You basically use the view in your peripheral vision that has the bead in it, since you know the only eye that can see the bead is the one over the rib.
I am a right handed shooter, left eye dominant. When I mount the gun I see two sight pictures down the barrel. I know the left sight picture is the correct one so thats what I focus on and it lets me shoot birds without any problems with both eyes open.
A tip is to wear glasses with a red dot on your left eye(or whatever eye is not the same as your gun-shooting hand). I had to wear one for a while because I was really struggling with double vision (I am only slightly left-eye dominant, and I shoot left-handed just because it is more comfortable, shooting the right side is weird for me, even using Nerf guns I shot left-handed before even knowing that was a thing). I eventually got over it but a simple piece of red tape or even red sharpe on normal tape or red sharpe directly on cheap glasses is what I did before my coach gave me a red dot to put on my glasses. Usually after shooting you will get over it, but if you don't a red dot helps a lot and doesn't obscure vision at all, my brain just ignored the red.
@@justinprice7484what is the significance of this exactly? For example, while hunting what would this accomplish? I guess I am not 100% sure!
Me too. I just slightly squint my left eye but still keep it open. That makes my brain focus on the right eye because it has a complete picture but I can still see birds from my left eye. Just not as clear as if my left eye were open completely or especially if I were right eye dominant.
I am Left handed/Right eye dominant, and shooting with the gun in my left hand got me 1/25 clays the first time, and 2/25 on the second time shooting. Not fun. I didn't shoot again, as it all didn't feel "right." Now, 6 months later, after reading this, I'm going to dry practice in my home, now switching to my Right hand, and see if, after hours of practice, I get some muscle memory, and I'll then to to the range with the "pearls" of shooting that you taught in this video. Thank you!!!
Shot right handed for 40 years before I figured out I was left eye dominant and right handed. Once I finally figured out I was left eye dominant I fought if for years with all the tricks, tape etc. Some days it worked, some days it didn't. Bit the bullet and got a left handed shot gun. After some seriously awkward outings things have finally gotten better. Probably took about 300+ rounds to start to feel good. So happy I stopped fighting it and made the change.
I am left handed and right eye dominant. I switched from shooting left to right and in September at my ATA shoot shot a 97 with my first ever 75 in a row. I have shot right handed for 2 years now.
Greetings from Greece
This is the best tutorial video i've ever watched on you tube about shooting a shotgun.
All the basics in 16 minutes.
Everybody should watch this video.
Congratulations you are the best
Much more to come. I appreciate the kind words my friend 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
I have a gun but abandoned it after many failed trials.
Your training is an eye-opener for me.
Many thanks
Wow - I’m a 5 decade rifle shooter 14:44 just getting into shotgun shooting. Your video tips for shotgun are amazing. Thank you.
I'm turning 70 and always shot right-handed and my dominant eye was also my right. Unfortunately, around 8 years ago my optic nerve died during a stroke. I haven't picked up a rifle or shotgun since. I've just ordered one. I have to learn to shoot left-handed and left-eyed. I was going to look for a video with this subject and accidentally clicked this one. That was lucky.
Steve - You're a training phenom! Explain and example well. Nice work.
Great information for my situation. A little over a year and a half ago I suffered an ocular stroke in my right eye. I am naturally right handed and was right eye dominant. During the time since I have converted to left hand shooting and predominantly shoot over and under shotguns. My trap scores are improving but I picked up several tips in your video that I think will help. I usually shoot a Beretta Silver Pigeon or my Browning Cynergy Classic. I believe I need to practice my mount by going first to my face and then the shoulder. It is coming along, but 70+ years of bad habits are hard to break. Starting over on the left side I have an opportunity to begin anew by developing good habits. Thanks, I really enjoyed your video!!!
Red dot really helps cross dominant for both eye open.
Fantastic summary!
This video should be obligate for new shooters before buying a shotgun or even shoot one.
And even for advanced shooters it brings benefits.
Great job, well done.
Great video. I hunt for six years and in the beginning I've been practicing with three diffrent instructors on a shooting range. None of them checked wich eye is dominant, none of them told me to keep both eyes opened. After writing this comment I take my shotgun and practice at home.
Greetings from Poland!
I have been considering getting a shotgun and have tried shooting the same without much success. Your vid has explained the why! I think now that I'm armed with such good info I can begin to learn the process. Your thoughts on how it differs from rifle shooting makes perfect sense! Thanks for your most excellent teaching!
This video is fantastic!! I cant thank you enough for it. I started getting some bad habits out bird hunting to the point my shot was completely gone. Re watched this video a few times to get back to the basics and this last weekend I dropped way more than I have in the last few seasons. Felt the love for the hunt again. Crazy how a few simple adjustments can cause you to either hit or miss. I even passed some of the tips to my dad whose been hunting his entire life and even he was saying wow I've never thought of those things before. Brilliant video is an understatement.
Great information, glad I found your channel. I just went sporting clay shooting for the first time last month, limited success, but really enjoyed it. I feel much more comfortable shooting and mounting a shotgun lefty than I do righty, just feels much more "natural" for me. I have always been a righty as an athlete, hockey golf baseball soccer etc, (except billiards lefty), but I write and eat lefty. My right eye seems to be the dominant. So as you can see I am all over the place. I will take your advice and practice dry mounting from both sides, its seems to be the most important tip you keep coming back to. Thanks again I'll let you know how I progress.
Great advice! Just took up trap shooting, trying to learn all I can to get better! Thanks!
Right handed ,Left eye, dominant here. This guy is spot on in everything he is saying, Very important info when shot gunning. Yes the tape works , However shooting left handed on a shotgun really gets easy after a few days of practice. I have to shoot shotguns and some scoped rifles Left handed While other scoped rifles I just use see through mounts to get the scope higher , and get my eye into place . Hand gun Left eye right eye don't have much of a role since you can easily move to left or right eye. Those of you who think you cant shotgun other handed its cause you haven't tried
For me as a non-native speaker, I understood nearly everything.... Awesome!
Well you taught me a few things that I will put into practice. I started hunting late in life, unfortunately no one really showed how to shoot a shotgun. Your videos are a huge help. Can’t wait to try your tips out. Thanks
I have been away from this sport for 22 years and recently spent the day shooting sporting clays with a friend using his spare 12 g "home defense shotgun" as my firearm. He used his semi auto Benelli shotgun and, obviously, out shot me. I used to own a beautiful Browning Citori in 16 gauge that I used to compete with and have since sold it. One of the things I realized is that, as a life long rifle shooter, I had become sight focused and this caused me to miss some of the clays that came from the outer areas at obtuse angles. I just purchased a new Mossberg 940 JM Pro and will pick it up this week. I am looking forward to applying these training techniques to "remember" the competitive clay shooter I used to be. Thank you for this and your other series. I have enjoyed your gun comparisons and actually purchased my 940 JM Pro from Reeds as a result. They had the most competitive price and stock combo. Additionally, they were offering a special that gave me a free case of ammo with the purchase. Thank you again.
Right hand, left eye dominate with bum left shoulder. Always an issue. Mostly just use the tape on glasses. Helps a great deal. Place it just outside pupil and when mount gun, right eye takes over. Thanks for great video.
Wonderful explanation about dominant eye and reasons for keeping both eyes open on shooting.
Congrats!
Brilliant Steve! Love your work, especially the importance of keeping both eyes open to utilise our binocular vision. Catching a ball is another example I’ve used to emphasise that shooting / leading a moving target should be more of an instinct rather than a calculation.
💯%
I would not want to catch a football or baseball with one eye closed...so hard to react correctly. I scratched my cornea in a football game in high school and that made it extremely tough. I had over 100 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns but I also dropped a couple very catchable balls.
I'm in my 50s and found out very late, in my late 20s how to check for eye dominance. I couldn't understand how I was missing so many birds and clay targets. Found out i am left eye dominate and shoot right-handed. I take a small strip of first aid tape across my shooting glasses where my vision is only obstructed when I go to shoot. Has greatly improved my shooting ratio and birds in the bag. I am more confident in my shooting and am more patient when pulling the trigger. Less missed birds
Your Video on the how to mount the shotgun to the face first and not to the shoulder first is the best explanation on the correct way to to get the shot gun over the correct position. I an heading out the the range today and I am going to use that technique. Thank You. Just as a suggestion I having a problem in knowing where to focus the on the target. I will let you know how I do on the range when I get back home. Again you are the only one who explained how to mount the shot gun and how to get the correct position with the gun mounted. I feel that I can improve my shooting with both eyes open I have only been using one eye for YEARS Again thank you.
My middle boy kept saying the gun felt weird to shoot right handed and I just brushed it off til I let him try shooting left handed and he said that felt way better even though he is right handed. So now he just shoots left handed and that gives me an excuse to buy more guns! God Bless!
Haha...love it. Thanks for sharing. How old is your middle boy? 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
@@TargetFocusedLife he is 8, I felt really bad after we figured out the whole left eye dominant thing cuz I pushed the right hand thing pretty hard, I had no idea it was real til we googled it and then I believe you did a video talking about it last summer sometime which really helped!
Great practical advice - very well explained ! Thank You !
I am left handed so it was natural when I was a kid to shoot left handed. When I was about 14, I joined a small bore rifle league and my instructor noted my head was leaning way over the stock of the gun when shooting. I was unconsciously using my dominant right eye while shooting left handed. They switched me over to shooting right handed. It put me way behind the other shooters, but I am glad in the long run they corrected the problem.
Solid. When you switch sides more often than not you will go backwards for w bit. That is why most don't want to switch. Gotta play the long game 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Awesome video! Best shotgun channel on UA-cam!
You helped me so much!!! I am used to rifle hunting turkey and target shooting with pistol. This has been challenging switching for me to bird hunting and clay shooting. You said some key things that really helped me. Thank you so much! God bless ya!!!
THANKS! That scotch tape trick has worked fantastic for me (Left eye dominant, right hand shooter too stubborn to switch sides)
Awesome! Glad it helped you.
I shot right handed for over 20 years, including weekly trap league. I had two fingers amputated on my right hand and switched to my left hand. It took a couple years, but it was not a big deal. And, I discovered I am left eye dominant.
I'm cross dominant (right handed, left eye dominant), my shooting coach in college just did the tape trick on my glasses and my shooting immediately improved, and I've just always done it that way since. I could try shooting lefty, but man it just feels so weird!!
Thank you Steve! Such a helpful video. Being what they call a “late onset hunter” it’s been hard finding folks willing to put in the time to teach a new hunter. I’ve found your videos so helpful for being a new hunter and trying to learn as much as I can on my own time. Thank you for all your knowledge on teaching a new shooter and new hunter!
Thank you for tuning in my friend! What sort of hunts are you looking to get in to?
@@TargetFocusedLife thanks for the reply! I’m trying to learn as much as I can before the start of turkey season to hopefully do some turkey hunting. Went duck hunting a couple times before the season closed. End goal I would love to get into big game like deer and elk.
I agree. Best shotgun channel!!
Wow, thanks! 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Wish i checked these out before going trap shooting for the first time haha. Rifle and pistol shooting for better part of 2 decades... and it was a very humbling experience haha
The best shotgun video with tons of useful info that I've ever watched
I just learned something new after all these years of shooting a shotgun thanks for the video very helpful!
Best shootng education and advive ever for a person like me. You helped me more than you can imagine! I am RH'd and left eye dominant. In addition my eyes do not play well together (no stereoopsys). I very seldom, almost never comment. In your case I have to say, God Bless and Thank You!.
I am constantly amazed that most experts make cross eye dominant shooters feel second class and doomed to mediocrity. I felt the same until I read about Nora Ross. She shoots with one eye closed, holds low on the house, and has won everything worth winning. It just seems crazy to me that so much of our sport gives up on the overwhelming number of the 28% of people who are cross eye dominant and who can't switch shooting arms or succeed with patches. Just think of how much bigger the sport could be (and how many more shotguns and ammo would be sold) if we/you just encouraged cross eye dominant people to be ok with one eye closed. Happy Holidays to all!
I’ve been hoping for a how to shoot video, thank you! I’m left eye dominate, right hand dominate. I’m going to make the switch and pick up the new left handed SX4 then hit the range all off season. Thanks again, God bless!
Sounds like a great plan. Let me know how it goes for you 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
I'm the same and shoot with my left eye closed even though I know I shouldnt.
Im so used to it now that it'll be a struggle to relearn 😅
Shotgunning with cross eye dominance is so daunting. Just bought first shotgun been only shooting handguns until now 😊
I got lasik and I don't have a dominant eye anymore. I use one of those clear plastic stick-on punched hole protectors for 3 hole paper (so the holes don't tear). I just stick it to the inside of my sun glasses. you can still see through the middle, but it obscures anything off center (like a sight lined up with the other eye). I can squint and do fine too, shooting with one eye is better than shooting with a cross eye dominance.
Very enjoyable video! I always enjoy the wisdom you share. I have had some mysterious misses and struggles shooting both eyes open. I come up right eye dominant with the finger test, but the other test doesn’t even make sense to my eyes. I have noticed my dominance switches back and forth depending on distance! Per my shooting instructor I started shooting with scotch tape over my left lenses and shooting right handed. I went from shooting 7 out of 25 to consistently hitting 20-25 out of 25 very quickly. The tape method really truly works, and because my eyes switch dominance it makes more sense than switching sides. It’s a very simple but affective way to improve.
Love it. Thanks for sharing! Glad you are finding success. 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Hey, Steve. I personally would love to see a video on how to toss clays with your hands from like 1 clay to 6-7 clays. I have searched and searched but to no avail. There aren't any videos on hand tossing clays and most certainly with no instructions. Thanks!
Great suggestion! 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
I like when you said to the camera that your clear before aiming the gun. Part of me wanted to duck anyway. Great video too! really informative but not to in-depth or boring at all. Definitely taking a roll of tape with me though, great tips.
I shoot left handed with rifle and shotgun. I shoot my pistols right hand. Always have. I'm right handed with a dominant left eye. Been shooting for over 50 years. Wind, humidity and elevation all affect performance.
I’m left handed and right eye dominant. Shot left handed my whole life until I figure out eye dominance. Once I switched hands, I was equal between hands within a couple range trips
One of your best education videos to date, good stuff Sir!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH...VERY CLEAR WAY TO TEACH THIS BEAUTIFUL SHOOTING SPORT. I USED TO SHOOT RIFLES MANY YEARS AGO AND NOW I'M NEW TO CLAY SHOOTING TARGETS. I HAVE CROSS DOMINANT EYE.
This helped a lot! Now I know im left eye dominant and gotta start shooting w my left. Thanks!
This was a tremendous amount help. My son is getting into trap shooting. This helped him a lot.
Super informative. Been dealing with eye dominance forever. I use a dark eye protection lense on my left eye with a yellow or orange on my right to help compensate. I've seen signifiant improvement with thay system without the tape or dot solution (although I did have to buy more expensive eye protection - I believe it Walker Eye Pro). The mount to cheek/eye before shoulder is super helpful. I'll be working on that before this bird season starts.
Very clear and easy explanation. Thank you.
I'd give my Left and Wrong eye to shoot like that! Nice shooting.
When I was little I thought myself to close the right and not the left. I am right dominant but sometimes it’s muscle memory to use the left.
You are the man! Mount to your face and then shoulder! Thank you!
Great job, and now I have a lot of work (Practise) to do! Im classified as a high master at 600 yards but now I need to readjust to shotgun shooting! Thanks
Great video. The tape on goggles thing works wonders for suckers like me, who don't have a dominant eye.
just watch this , this makes so much sense to me , gosh i needed this Thank you so much love your reviews by the way
I think that I don’t have a dominant eye. Sometimes it seems like my left eye is dominant, but sometimes it seems like it’s right. I’m also right handed. Should I shoot on my right side?
WOW. The baseball and basketball analogies were spot on. While watching your video I kept swinging my straight arm and stopping on objects in the room. So simple, now just need to learn to do it with a shotgun. I'm still aiming right before trigger pull.
I’m just starting out in sporting clays. My Mossberg has 2 beads. I close one eye and make sure I’m lined up correctly after mounting the gun, then open the other eye before saying pull. It seems to help.
Great video Steve I'm going to try the tip about bringing the gun to the cheek first and then the shoulder
Sound advice. I’m gonna take all this out to the field again. Used to shoot 21-24 on the trap range and get birds. Bought a beretta that started out meh and now I hate it. Miss the high rib of my 870. can’t hit S with this stupid Italian paperweight. Gonna use this advice to figure out my life. Thanks for the vid!
Being left eye dominant and right hand dominant I’ve always shot right handed it felt natural somehow I think I’ve switched eye dominance or at least my brain ignores my left eye when I’m shooting I don’t see double or anything like that my eye aligns perfectly.
Excellent! As a right hand, right eye dominant shooter, I found that for extremely close targets (
I'm a RH shooter and left eye dominate. My question is this: If I'm not supposed to "aim" the shotgun, why does it matter what side I mount the gun on? I do shoot a left-handed bow, but that's because I'm aiming at a fixed target.
GREAT GREAT tips. You do a really good job teaching shooting
Thanks Steve! Great video. You make everything straightfoward so that even I can understand! I can't wait to get out there and blast some clays!
This video was awesome!! If I would have watched this before I took up the sport 5 years ago, I would have gotten better a lot quicker than what I did.
I started shooting a shotgun at 58 (and haven't done much of it yet). I've shot rifles and handguns for decades, but fortunately, I've always shot everything with both eyes open. My brain simply ignores the eye that's not in the sight line -- and while I have a lot of trouble with the "point" drill for dominant eye checking (I see two fingers every time), when I raise a pistol or rifle I see only the sight picture. The little shotgun shooting I've done I find myself with both eyes open, but missing because the gun (870 Express) isn't getting to the correct lead in time. More practice should help a lot (I hope). Seeing the lead is going to be key for me, I think...
I love your channel! Sporting clays is one of my favorite hobbies.
I have been trained to bring my head down to the Shotgun. The more videos I watch I see mixed reviews.
Steve, thanks from across the pond in the UK. A great video that explains eye dominance better than nearly all the other vids I've seen up to now & well presented. Many thanks.
Definitely cross dominate and really never thought of it before as an issue.. shoot right but left eye dominate.. just started mounting left handed and shooting and wow what a difference! Amazing now when I point at something I shoot it lol
I find your videos helpful. I just started wing shooting (at age 76). I have never shot clay targets but plan to so I might be able to have a more successful outing
My question is do progressive glasses impact one’s ability to shoot skeet well?
Thanks.This video helped, turner’s out I am crosseyed dominant. And I can now move forward with this in mind and hopefully become a better shooter.
First couple hundred rounds trying to shoot clay I was terrible hit maybe 2out of 10 set. Finally an instructor suggested try left handed first set got 10 out of 10. I shoot ambi I have several right handed guns and a few left-handed guns.
For me shooting a flying target I have to do it left handed, stationary doesn't matter as much.
Another great video as usual.
Would like to see a video on your analysis of the type (Not Brand) of gun (Barrel Length, Gauge, and Types) for beginners to Sport Shooting.
What gun works best and what does not.
Thanks for the tips. Liked your shooting at Rice Creek too!
Thanks so much for this video. I think you saved me a lot of time here. I’m right handed and left eye dominant.
nice to know all these details, worth watching
Thanks for all … new subscriber from Madrid..👌🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Brilliant! More of this. Thank you!!!!!!
This was excellent!! I gained so many tips from this one video, Steve. Thanks!
Amazing video! I have been hunting for more years than I want to say but I learned from this! I plan on using these tips to help my boys!
Tradition is priceless my friend :) happy to hear that!
When I point with my right hand, I’m right eye dominant and visa versa 😮😮
I love recoil and I’m a lefty for rifles and shotguns but a righty for handguns but I’m left eye dominant.
I shot RH for 55 years being left eye dominate. (Closed the left eye just before the shot) I shot very well. Then decided to switch to LH, many shots later and lots of mounting practice later I shoot left just fine. Odd thing is I can shoot RH both eyes open just fine now.
Thank you!!! More like this please along with your regular content!!! I look forward to all your videos!! How about different methods of swinging the gun, swing through, pull away, maintained lead , and when to use
Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely be making more videos like this and will include lead techniques. 👊 Stay Target 🎯Focused (Hebrews 12:1-3)
my dad did the stick on dot system. it works. not perfect but 90% there
Have been instructing since 2008. Some people cannot shoot with 2 eyes open. I can't as being right eye dom and right handed if i use two eyes open my left eye will take over most of the time and i see left side of barrel. Have tried 2 eyes for years.
Best video yet really helpful.
Being cross-dominant myself & shooting on the wrong side for well over half a century now ( 😡 grrr ); I’ve found that a side by side double works best for me. The fatty lower portion of your thumb on the forearm grip somewhat obscures vision in the dominant eye helping to shift dominance to the eye over the rib. Perhaps with a tiny bit of squinting, I can keep both eyes open for the shot. 110% behind Steve though…change now to your dominant side, while you still can…