Eye Dominance in Shooting: Why You Should Stick with Your Dominant Hand

When it comes to defensive shooting, understanding eye dominance can make a significant difference in how you train and respond in a high-stress situation. While most people’s dominant hand and eye are on the same side, many shooters discover they are cross-eye dominant, meaning their dominant eye is opposite their dominant hand.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you don’t need to switch hands. In fact, sticking with your dominant hand is critical for effective, instinctive shooting. Here’s what you need to know about eye dominance, why switching hands isn’t the answer, and how to adapt your shooting technique.

What Is Eye Dominance?

Eye dominance means one of your eyes naturally takes over when focusing on a target. Just like being right- or left-handed, most people have a dominant eye that provides stronger input when aiming.

Finding your dominant eye is simple and can be done with just your pointer finger:

1. Choose a Distant Object: Select a small object in the distance, such as a light switch or a door handle.
2. Align with Your Fingernail: Extend your pointer finger at arm’s length and place your fingernail over the object. Focus only on your fingernail, trying to cover as much of the object as possible. It’s okay if the object seems to peek out or even appear doubled—just keep your focus on your fingernail.
3. Close One Eye at a Time

• • • When you close one eye, the object will either stay hidden behind your fingernail or “jump” out from behind it.
  • • If the object stays covered when one eye is open, that open eye is your dominant eye.
  • • If the object jumps away from behind your fingernail, the closed eye is your dominant eye—your non-dominant eye is open and unable to hold the object in focus.

This quick test helps identify which eye naturally takes control when aiming—a crucial detail for improving shooting accuracy and adjusting techniques like sight alignment.

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