As an NRA Training Counselor, I can attest to the fact that each student I teach comes with unique sets of challenges. I am certain that most NRA Certified Firearm Instructors can agree with this statement. After all, we are all different in body shapes, experiences and strengths, just to name a few. These same students also come with a variety of different weaknesses they must be overcome to become proficient with firearms.
As firearms instructors, it is our job to identify these strengths and weaknesses. We must teach our students how to build upon their strengths and how to apply the 5 Fundamentals of Pistol and Rifle Shooting: Aiming, Breath Control, Hold Control, Trigger Control, and Follow Through. At the same time, firearms instructors teach students how to identify and overcome their weaknesses so that they do not interfere with these 5 shooting fundamentals.
One of the toughest issues we encounter in firearms training is the seemingly increasing number of students who are cross-eye dominant. This issue can be overcome with proper instructions. It is important to correct this issue because all shooters, those who are cross-eye dominant and those who are not, will never be able to perform at their maximum potential until they shoot with the hand under their dominant eye.
Cross-Eye Dominant
A cross-eye dominant shooter is someone whose dominant eye is opposite the dominant hand; his or her strong hand does not fall under the dominant eye. For example, a cross-eye dominant individual would be right-handed and left-eye dominant. Likewise, a cross-eye dominant could also be left-handed and right-eye dominant. In almost every NRA Basic Pistol Course that I teach, there is at least one student who is cross-eye dominant.
I have encountered both types of students: left-eye cross dominant and right-eye cross dominant. By far, the most cross-eye dominant students that I encounter are right-hand/left-eye dominant. Some students have learned to shoot with their non-dominant hand under their dominant eye. Unfortunately, this is not very common. Almost all the students that I get who are cross-eye dominant shoot with their dominant hand under their opposite eye.
Shooting with the dominant hand under the non-dominant eye is not the proper shooting technique. I have been told many times by cross-eye dominant students, who took prior shooting lessons or firearms courses (from non-NRA firearms instructors), that they were instructed to “just compensate” by continuing to shoot with their strong hand and either shifting it over and under their dominant eye, or turning their head so their dominant eye lines up over their dominant hand. Each of these students independently and unanimously tell me that they were never even offered an alternative technique.
The technique I use consists of three parts. First, I start by conducting an eye-dominance test. I then have my students shoot a control group and then shoot a test group. The results will speak for themselves!
Eye Dominance Test
The first thing that any properly trained firearms instructor should do prior to any range time, after explaining all the safety and range rules, is to conduct an eye-dominance test on their students. Countless tests are available for firearms instructors to use to determine eye dominance in their students.
The eye dominance test demonstrated in the NRA Basic Firearms courses are very easy to conduct. To perform this test, the instructor should have their student stand approximately three to four yards away and face him or her. The student is then instructed to extend his or her hands and with palms facing out, make a small triangle using their index fingers and thumbs. The student is then instructed to raise their extended arms and look at you through the small triangle they just formed, while keeping both eyes open.
The key to doing this exercise correctly is to have the student make a small triangle. In fact, the smaller, the better. The instructor then looks through the small triangle. Whichever eye the instructor sees is the student’s dominant eye.
Control Group
One exercise I set up when on the range is having the students shoot a control group. I staple four targets on a target backer, two side by side above, and two side by side below. If my student is left-eye dominant and shoots with his or her right hand, I instruct them to shoot the two targets on the right. If they are right-eye dominant and shoot with their left hand, I instruct them to shoot the two targets on the left.
I instruct the student to shoot two targets to get an accurate control group. The second target they shoot is usually a better representation of their shot grouping. This is because the student knows he or she is being “watched” and when they shoot the first target, they are usually a little nervous with someone closely observing them. The student is normally much calmer shooting their second control target.
Test Group
The next thing I instruct the student to do is shoot the test group. The student must shoot the next set of targets with his or her non-dominant or “weak” hand in alignment under the dominant eye. I instruct the student to shoot the first test group target opposite of the first control group target, and their second test group target opposite their second control group target.
Many times, the test group grouping is immediately obvious. It is not uncommon for my students to be speechless, grinning ear to ear, and amazed by what they just accomplished. They normally say that they never thought they would shoot as good as they just did with their “weak” hand!
Results
Each time that I have performed this test with a cross-eye dominant student, the test group with the hand under the dominant eye has a tighter group. This improvement may only be slight, but there is always an improvement. At this point it is the up to the student if he or she decides to make any changes in their shooting techniques to improve their shot grouping.
If your student carries a firearm only for personal protection, he or she may be happy with his or her shot grouping and choose not to adjust the fundamentals. For example, if the difference between shot groupings is only slight, the time spent on retraining their shooting fundamentals using the “weak” hand as their shooting hand to align under their dominant eye may not tighten their grouping enough for them to make any changes. The shooter may conclude the costs of new gear such as holsters may not be worth it for them to make the switch.
On the other hand, if your student is a competitive shooter, or is thinking about doing so in the future, this adjustment could be significant along his or her shooting journey and growth. You are only going to shoot to your best potential when your dominant eye is in proper alignment with the sights of your firearm and the target.
As the instructor, it is important to remember that it is totally up to the student if he or she wants to change. It is also important to remind your student that this may be the first time they have tried shooting with their non-dominant or “weak” hand. Let your students know that if changing their shooting hand to align under their dominant eye improved their grouping, even if very slightly, the first time, imagine how much they could improve if they practiced and consistently trained with their non-dominant hand.
