Eye Dominance And It's Effect On Fencing?

[jeff]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

erm...... is it possible to not have a dominant eye?

I don't think so, but the effect can be subtle.

Here's another test: take a string and tie it to a doorknob or other fixed point a few feet from you. Hold the other end of the string to your nose. Look at the doorknob - make that your focus point. You should see one doorknob, and two (yes, really) strings converging in a "V" at the focus point. If you see two doorknobs, or you don't have two strings, or they never meet or converge elsewhere than at the doorknob/focus, then you don't have proper binocular vision.

[DesertFencer]

Here's another way to find out:

Pick a small object at least 5-7 yards/meters away. Face it directly. Keep both eyes open and cover the object with your thumb. You'll see two thumbs, but one will seem to cover it better. Keeping the obect covered, pull your thumb back to your face. It will come back to your dominant eye. You'll probably have a little trouble keeping your dominant eye closed with the other open.

I've never even thought about eye dominance with fencing. Several people here have mentioned shooting, and that's a job where it's critical to know your eye dominance. I'm also cross-dominant, fencing and pistol are right hand, rifle is left hand.

[slain4sooth]

... can't see how eye dominance is relevant either. 'parry by eye' is a mistake that we learn to correct at the novice level; we do not make decisions that correspond to how our eyes are tracking, but from a spatio-temporal interpretation, (relying quite a bit on tactile data and innate knowledge), that doesn't actually need to be continually refreshed by more visual data, but only at decisive moments; i think most of the game is blind. but then i'm kind of fond of zatoichi and those stories

[MyrddinsPrecint]

i found this page about testing for binocularity...... and i pass the second part, but not the first, which isn't that much of a suprise, since because of my bizarre vision (nearsighted in one eye, farsighted in the other, where the overlap where both eyes can see is maybe 4 inches....) i've had a slowish loss of any depth perception since the third grade................

and THAT really messed up my fencing.....

[mackillian]

I'm right handed and left-eye dominant. Shooting was never a problem, though firing a rifle is a bit uncomfortable aiming with my left eye (pistols are easier). And bow shooting? Really, REALLY hard to aim when your dominant eye isn't on the same side as your dominant hand.

[Kenji]

Originally Posted by mackillian

I'm right handed and left-eye dominant. Shooting was never a problem, though firing a rifle is a bit uncomfortable aiming with my left eye (pistols are easier). And bow shooting? Really, REALLY hard to aim when your dominant eye isn't on the same side as your dominant hand.

Is that even possible? (with archery) I would probably just close one eye and use the nondominant one.

[fencerX]

Here's another way to find out:

And here's another, more fencing specific test. Hold your weapon, whether it be sabre, epee or foil. Look at its point so you're looking down the blade to the handle. Now plunge the point in to one of your eyeballs. Hard. Your other eye is your dominant one.

[WhipLash]

Originally Posted by mackillian

I'm right handed and left-eye dominant. Shooting was never a problem, though firing a rifle is a bit uncomfortable aiming with my left eye (pistols are easier). And bow shooting? Really, REALLY hard to aim when your dominant eye isn't on the same side as your dominant hand.

how do you shoot with your left eye while holding the rifle with your right hand at the grip?

[remise]

You can not switch hands while a bout is in progress. You can switch in between bouts.

[Chafunkta]

Those two ways to test eye dominance have not worked for me.

Try this. Point at an object about 7 ft away. Close one of your eyes. Whichever eye that's open causes the finger to still point at the object is your dominant eye.

[jBirch]

Originally Posted by Kenji

Is that even possible? (with archery) I would probably just close one eye and use the nondominant one.

I'm both an archery instructor and a shooting instructor. The answer to both is "yes".

What you do is wear a pair of shooting glasses and put masking tape over the dominent eye. Why masking tape? Because the ambient light will still filter through the tape and cause your dominent eye pupil to dilate approximately the same amount as your non-dominent eye. This allows you to see the target in greater focus with your non-dominent eye and reduces eye strain (which introduces tension which causes you to shoot poorly).

Whether eye dominence has anything to do with fencing, I've yet to determine (but I'm very doubtful).

Hope this helps.

James.

[Kenji]

Ah, I see. I guess that's why my dad always told me not to close my other eye... =P

[BIND8!RUNAWAY!]

how do you figure out whcih eye is dominant?

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by BIND8!RUNAWAY!

how do you figure out whcih eye is dominant?

You read the thread.

[Ben Greenhalgh]

Im right eye dominant and i fence right handed.

is fencing left handed still an advantage?