Your Dominant Eye and Hand

[Donovan]

OK I got a couple people asking about the dominant eye thing, so let's turn it into a poll too. We are looking for two things and how they correlate.

Which is your Dominant hand" Yes, I know some people are ambidextrous, but let's pick the one you use to putt with the most.

Next, which eye do you sight with the best? There is a simple test to figure that out with.

How to do the test:
Find a vertical line to sight to away from you - a corner of the room or a doorframe can work.

With both eyes open, extend either hand in front of you with the index finger straight up and in line with the vertical line you chose to sight.

Close your left eye and open your right eye - did your finger stay in line with the vertical line?

Close your right eye and open your left eye - did your finger stay in line with the vertical line?

One of these situations should cause your finger to appear to “move or jump" in one direction or the other.

The eye that is open and appears to keep your finger stationery with the vertical line is your dominant eye.

So what are you?

[Donovan]

If you have a strong jump and things really seem to be off, you might try putting with just your dominant eye open. You also might practice sighting a few times with both eyes and then your dominant eye to get used to where the middle ground is for you.

Deep down I really don;t know how useful this is for this sport, but it is huge for ball golf, pool, and any shooting sports (archery, guns, ...)

[PhattD]

That dominant eye thing is pretty cool. I never heard of that before. What about practicing with just your non dominant eye open? Or do you think that would throw things off too much.

[Donovan]

That dominant eye thing is pretty cool. I never heard of that before. What about practicing with just your non dominant eye open? Or do you think that would throw things off too much.

If you are throwing with your non-dominant eye then you would be throwing at a missed place target and trying to compensate on a link or the pole that is not there. I am not an expert in disc golf, but you would not have much success in billiards or shooting a gun at a target doing that. So, I can't imagine that this would do you much good here either.

[Donovan]

The only reason for bringing this up is I figure most of you have read tons of stuff on the different types of putting styles. So, you may want to find a stance that allows your dominant eye to remain your dominant eye's point of you, especially if you keep missing your target link or the pole on the same side that your non-dominant eye is tricking you with.

[Lewis]

I'm definitely right-handed, but I think my eyes are broken: the finger moves no matter which eye I close. :confused:

[garublador]

I'm definitely right-handed, but I think my eyes are broken: the finger moves no matter which eye I close. :confused:You need to find something farther away to use as a reference.

Most putting styles have your shoulders squared up with the basket so this probably isn't much of an issue. I'm right hand/left eye so I found it was harder to teach myself to start my drive run-up with my right arm pointed in the direction of the throw rather than starting squared up to that direction. I hadn't realized that might be why I have difficulty with that until now, though.

[Donovan]

I'm definitely right-handed, but I think my eyes are broken: the finger moves no matter which eye I close. :confused:

Well, you will want to pick the one that moves the least. That is your dominant eye. I am no eye doctor, but I really don't think this is that uncommon. Who knows, next time you go to the eye doctor for a check up, you might ask them about this and report back to us what you found out. Maybe your eyes are balanced with no dominant eye?

[Jungle Tim]

wow! i have a strong jump, This is awsome for fancy dress disc golf! I now know which eye the patch is bet on.

Maybe you can help me with this though, i am Right handed Right eyed.
I miss mostly to the left of the basket. Especially on jump Putts. Following the Blake T's tips on short arm putts i have MASSIVLY improved my straddle putts as i think my shoulder are squarer. But my favoured inline putts and jump putts still miss left, this is not a question of fade.

anythoughts?

[Donovan]

wow! i have a strong jump, This is awsome for fancy dress disc golf! I now know which eye the patch is bet on.

Maybe you can help me with this though, i am Right handed Right eyed.
I miss mostly to the left of the basket. Especially on jump Putts. Following the Blake T's tips on short arm putts i have MASSIVLY improved my straddle putts as i think my shoulder are squarer. But my favoured inline putts and jump putts still miss left, this is not a question of fade.

anythoughts?

Keep in mind, I am no expert...

Well, if you don't think it is your form and you don't think it is your release, and you really like your stance and putting style...what else is there but pick a target that is more right of where you have been and adjust that target as your distance changes.

The fact that it is not a matter of fade, makes me think whatever stance you are taking, you might not be lining up correctly, especially if you are missing it the same distance to left almost every time.

If you are a straddle putter, maybe you need to have your left foot just a touch (1 inch or 2) further forward than what you think is square. If you are putting with your right foot forward, like a normal backhand throw, try turning your toe to the right more, or adjust your entire right foot to the right 1 or 2 inches. Let us know how any of this works out for you.

[Ty9339]

i know i'm right eye, but my hand is a mystery, i throw a baseball left handed, throw a ultimate frisbee forehand lefthanded, throw and ultimate frisbee back hand right handed, throw my drives right handed back hand and my approaches 20 feet and out right handed and my putts 20 feet and in left handed.

[ERicJ]

Okay, I'm an "other". With my finger extended if I focus my eyes on the finger I very obviously see two background lines. If I focus my eyes on the background line I see two fingers. So I can't "line them up".

If I'm looking through a sight I'll naturally close my left eye and use my right. But I've noticed that after my LASIK that my left eye now sees better than the right.

ERic

[garublador]

Okay, I'm an "other". With my finger extended if I focus my eyes on the finger I very obviously see two background lines. If I focus my eyes on the background line I see two fingers. So I can't "line them up".If it's easier, make an "Okay" sign with one hand and focus on something far away through the loop in your fingers. Then close each eye and which ever one still allows you to see what you were focusing on is your dominant eye.

There are more tests here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocular_dominance

[PhattD]

Okay, I'm an "other". With my finger extended if I focus my eyes on the finger I very obviously see two background lines. If I focus my eyes on the background line I see two fingers. So I can't "line them up".

If I'm looking through a sight I'll naturally close my left eye and use my right. But I've noticed that after my LASIK that my left eye now sees better than the right.

ERic

I had that too so I just got it as close as I could and could definitely see a bigger jump with my right eye closed.

[shirfan]

If you have a strong jump and things really seem to be off, you might try putting with just your dominant eye open. You also might practice sighting a few times with both eyes and then your dominant eye to get used to where the middle ground is for you.

Deep down I really don;t know how useful this is for this sport, but it is huge for ball golf, pool, and any shooting sports (archery, guns, ...)

Interesting topic.

I know that the conventional wisdom for trap shooting was to slightly squint the non-dominant eye, as closing it would cost depth perception.

Whether that applies when we're trying to make discs fly well instead of blasting them out of the sky, I'm not sure.

[Lewis]

Okay, I'm an "other". With my finger extended if I focus my eyes on the finger I very obviously see two background lines. If I focus my eyes on the background line I see two fingers. So I can't "line them up".ERic

My experience is the same as Eric's. And the OK sign doesn't help either, because the result is inconsistent.

[Donovan]

My experience is the same as Eric's. And the OK sign doesn't help either, because the result is inconsistent.

You have to make sure the line is far enough away and that when you hold your finger up it is with a fully extended arm. That should help those of you having these issues.

[Lewis]

How far away is far enough away? :confused:

[Donovan]

How far away is far enough away? :confused:

how about 25 feet, maybe across the room is all.

[Donovan]

I am curious, THOSE OF YOU, who have opposite eye vs hand, what stance do you put with and how much do you like your putting accuracy?

I really think there are some things that can be learned here.

[garublador]

I am curious, THOSE OF YOU, who have opposite eye vs hand, what stance do you put with and how much do you like your putting accuracy?

I really think there are some things that can be learned here.I think this is a bit of a red herring. The most common, and generally most successful putting techniques that are taught involve getting square with the basket (your shoulders perpendicular to the line between you and the basket with your chest pointing on that line) and using a very consistant motion to ensure the disc is always traveling on a straight line between your center of gravity and the basket. This makes side to side aiming really simple and all you really have to do is figure out distance. This takes variables like eye dominance out of the equation.

[ERicJ]

You have to make sure the line is far enough away and that when you hold your finger up it is with a fully extended arm. That should help those of you having these issues.
How far away is far enough away? :confused:
how about 25 feet, maybe across the room is all.
Nope, still no help. The "OK" sign is a bit better. I still see two of them, but at least with that I seem to naturally and consistently pick the same one to spot through. Right Eye / Right Hand for me I guess. (Poll isn't set up to allow you to change your vote.)

ERic

[Donovan]

Nope, still no help. The "OK" sign is a bit better. I still see two of them, but at least with that I seem to naturally and consistently pick the same one to spot through. Right Eye / Right Hand for me I guess. (Poll isn't set up to allow you to change your vote.)

ERic

Yeah, VBulletin forums have never had that option.

[PhattD]

I wonder if having a more definite shift indicates that your eye is very dominate as opposed to kind of dominate? I was able to see the difference looking at the corner of the wall like 5' away.

[Donovan]

I wonder if having a more definite shift indicates that your eye is very dominate as opposed to kind of dominate? I was able to see the difference looking at the corner of the wall like 5' away.

I have no idea what you mean, but if your object is too close, it defeats the purpose of the experiment and test. your finger not shifting or shifting the least is your dominant eye.

[Donovan]

I did some resaerch and here is some of what I found out at usaeyes.org. This is a lasik surgery place, so keep that in mind as you read this.


The dominant eye is the eye that looks directly at an object. The non-dominant eye is the eye that looks at the same object at a slight angle. This small difference provides depth perception.

Being right or left handed will not necessarily determine if you are right or left eye dominant.

Eye dominance is an important consideration for monovision correction to reduce the need for reading glasses or bifocals. Anyone who is presbyopic should consider monovision.

Presbyopic - Part of the normal process of aging. As a person becomes older, we begin to lose the flexibility of the natural crystalline lens of the eye and weakness of the ciliary muscle. Presbyopia actually starts at about age ten. Most people do not begin to experience the effects of presbyopia until their forties.

[leppard]

Cool thread. I'm right handed - left eyed. Does this mean I should be putting with my right eye closed?

[Donovan]

Cool thread. I'm right handed - left eyed. Does this mean I should be putting with my right eye closed?

Maybe? Just try it and see if it makes a difference. I doubt it really will, unless the chain link you are focussing on is really jumping around on you with the right eye open.

[leppard]

A couple weeks ago, my glasses broke during a round. I can't see anything without my glasses. My left lense fell out so when I putt, I closed that eye and my depth perception was way off. Might try closing the right eye it next time I practice.

[Cyclops]

Not much choice for me in this poll? Being I lost my right eye in the service to a knife. I would have picked right eye & right hand. But that was 25 years ago and I had to relearn everything using the other eye and my dominate hand.

That's why I have always used the name Cyclops. It's a personal joke for me, where I make fun of my own disability. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and move passed your short comings. ;)

[AdamCaudle]

Not much choice for me in this poll? Being I lost my right eye in the service to a knife. I would have picked right eye & right hand. But that was 25 years ago and I had to relearn everything using the other eye and my dominate hand.

That's why I have always used the name Cyclops. It's a personal joke for me, where I make fun of my own disability. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and move passed your short comings. ;)

Haha you're epic.

[robertbonson]

^ +1, well done sir.

[Jukeshoe]

I think my eyes are ambidextrous....:p

[cblack129]

Okay, I'm an "other". With my finger extended if I focus my eyes on the finger I very obviously see two background lines. If I focus my eyes on the background line I see two fingers. So I can't "line them up".

ERic

The same thing happens to me.

[CwAlbino]

I have the same problem ERicJ has, but I ended up putting both hands up and cupping them to make a small opening dead center of my body. Then move my arm back and forth until I could see the line best, I always centered on the right eye.

Right/right

My putting style is right leg forward, athletic stance. I don't square my chest with the basket like a straddle, right shoulder forward. I'm guessing focusing with the right eye.

[Trashthrasher]

Right Hand - Left Eye... screws up my putting big time. I'm nearly blind in my right eye.

[okiebullgod]

My finger moves from one side of the line to the other when I switch camera lenses. Guess I'm both eye dominant.

[DiscJunkie]

i know i'm right eye, but my hand is a mystery, i throw a baseball left handed, throw a ultimate frisbee forehand lefthanded, throw and ultimate frisbee back hand right handed, throw my drives right handed back hand and my approaches 20 feet and out right handed and my putts 20 feet and in left handed.

Dude,
That's messed up.
I thought I was bad off. I'm LHBH and RHFH. But I throw LHBH and also putt with my left hand. I can't imagine how you do it.

[DiscJunkie]

Not much choice for me in this poll? Being I lost my right eye in the service to a knife. I would have picked right eye & right hand. But that was 25 years ago and I had to relearn everything using the other eye and my dominate hand.

That's why I have always used the name Cyclops. It's a personal joke for me, where I make fun of my own disability. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and move passed your short comings. ;)

Played in a tourney this weekend with a guy that had a glass eye.
He's pretty good-natured about it.
I was told that sometimes he'll take it out and wave it around to help him find a lost disc.

[jeverett]

This topic seems to come up a lot more in talking about disc golf than in most other sports.. it's odd. To add to the oddities here, I'm right-eye dominant and right-handed, but drive left-hand backhand, forehand and tomahawk right-handed, and putt right-handed. :\ Another sport where eye dominance comes up a fair amount is archery.. where I draw as if I were left-eye dominant.

What I suspect is that for a lot of us, it's actually a 3D binocular vision issue. While nearly everyone has a single eye that is dominant, there are actually several different methods our brain can use to establish 3D binocular vision. Basically, our brain can either merge the information our two eyes are giving us, or it can suppress the information from one eye if it can't match the two images up. For example, take those 'hidden picture' puzzle books.. the ones where you have to let your eyes relax to be able to see the image. Some people (myself included) cannot do those puzzles at all.

Here is a quick test of 3D binocular vision.. I failed it. :wall:

http://www.vision3d.com/frame.html

[racer93]

I am curious, THOSE OF YOU, who have opposite eye vs hand, what stance do you put with and how much do you like your putting accuracy?

I really think there are some things that can be learned here.

Left eye, right hand and I like my accuracy. Most of the time when I miss, I miss high or low. VERY occasionally, I miss left. Hardly ever to the right. Maybe I've compensated?

I've been doing (without knowing it) Feldberg's putting style for 4-5 years now, so I don't spin the disc much, except for jump-putting.

[Eagle01]

Left Eye | Right Hand here..

I use a stance with my right leg forward, rocking slightly back on my left leg and then lean forward as the distance increases to get some slight momentum forward on the putt

Like my accuracy for the most part (and for the misses I certainly can't chalk it up to not being able to see the basket clearly :D), but when I miss it's typically to the right these days (used to be too low was most common). I think that's sorta by design as I'm playing the Wizard left fade a little too hard at times

[Jukeshoe]

This topic seems to come up a lot more in talking about disc golf than in most other sports.. it's odd. To add to the oddities here, I'm right-eye dominant and right-handed, but drive left-hand backhand, forehand and tomahawk right-handed, and putt right-handed. :\ Another sport where eye dominance comes up a fair amount is archery.. where I draw as if I were left-eye dominant.

What I suspect is that for a lot of us, it's actually a 3D binocular vision issue. While nearly everyone has a single eye that is dominant, there are actually several different methods our brain can use to establish 3D binocular vision. Basically, our brain can either merge the information our two eyes are giving us, or it can suppress the information from one eye if it can't match the two images up. For example, take those 'hidden picture' puzzle books.. the ones where you have to let your eyes relax to be able to see the image. Some people (myself included) cannot do those puzzles at all.

Here is a quick test of 3D binocular vision.. I failed it. :wall:

http://www.vision3d.com/frame.html

Yeah, those hidden picture puzzles piss me off. Never could see anything in one...:\

[Dayute]

I'm almost completely blind in one eye, ****s with my depth perception on putts a lot so i usually just try and throw through the chains now instead of dropping it into the basket. Lining things up is easy its trying to fade a disc into the basket on an approach thats really hard.