Who here practices seriously with their non-dominant hand? I have had some interesting conversations at the range when I start practicing off hand. I generaly run about 100 rounds every other week this way.
Thoughts and opinions?
That would depend on what you consider seriously. While I can do many things with either hand I am not truly ambidextrous. My goal is to put more rounds than not center mass with my off hand. I will put at least a couple full mags down range with off-hand every time I am there (unless taking out someone new for their first time shooting).
I practice with my off hand ever range session. In an SD situation I canāt be sure of finding cover that favors my strong side. I usually run some with two hands, then strong hand only, then off hand only. I also try to use my non-dominant eye sometimes, but that can get pretty embarrassing!
Regards.
do you generally shoot with both eyes open or do you close one
I usually end up closing one eye, but I consciously try to use both. My eyes seem to be a lot older than my mind and can be reluctant to give me a good sight picture when I use both, although it is easier to use both eyes when shooting two handed. (Isoceles stance)
Regards.
I can certainly understand that. I suffered damage to much optic nerve. So I force myself to use both eyes.
Canāt my non-dominant hand is really messed up. I couldnāt hold a gun in my non-dominant hand Iāve had three big operations on my left hand and I have constant unrelenting pain so holding anything even a fork is not happening.
Three years ago in Chicago was shot in my hand by a street gang member lost my left first finger.
I learned to shoot from the US Army when I went in 1969 with both eyes open, so I just donāt close my eyes all these years later.
I encourage it in all of my students but with as little control as I have of my left hand and arm Iām putting everyone around me at risk anytime I try to do so myself so I reserve that practice for when Iām alone on my own range.
Yes I practice weak hand. My groupings are less than desirable but is on target.
You never know when your strong hand will be taken out of the game.
Yes, with my non dominant hand. Like @MikeBKY said, I donāt group as nicely, but, I can get the job done if pressed into action that way.
I do practice with my non dominant hand. Like others I donāt shoot as well with it. I do keep all my rounds mostly in the 9 and dome in the 8 ring on a silhouette target nine dominant hand.
I have shot left and right hand starting at 18 years old. I donāt see a problem with it. And for the ones that canāt, I would say PRACTICES you never know when youāll have to do it.
Iāve only had it for a month an half or so, but dry fire with a MantisX has been quite fruitful, especially for off-hand improvement. The first pistol I had to work with it is a DAO P220 circa 10 years ago and the pull is stiff for a hand which isnāt used to being used for ā¦ everythingā¦ That said, in MantisX terms my off hand is scoring 80s now on a 10 round course of fire, so the repetition has been quite successful. I recommend it. When Iām on the range in live-fire I use single-action 22LR for 70% of training. It was FAR safer for everyone just after I started. Now, full defense loads on said P220? No worries - for me or the folks right or left!
From a purely mental aspect as a former FTO as a FLEO we moved away from the terms strong and weak. Not criticizing just offering a different thought, surviving the encounter has a lot of mental aspect we moved to dominant and support. The idea was to reinforce that there was nothing weak about our physical abilities to better survive the fight. Just a thought good sir.
And well named - ānon dominantāā¦ not āweakā
I just go with āright and leftā
When teaching though, I use non-dominant.
I do left hand fire most range trips usually single hand. Iām going to add two hand left as well. My left hand groups are about 50% bigger right now, and Iām slower but both speed and accuracy are improving quickly.
What I need to work on is getting to my gun, in the holster, left-handed.
@MikeB I agree and usually refer to dominant and non-dominant. Depending on the audience, I may switch back and forth. My pet peeve is referring to a magazine as a clip. I have seen and used clips. They are a pain in the arse and nothing like a magazine.
@MikeBKY I use clips every dayā¦ they keep my hair out of my face rather nicely
@Zee we need a button not just a !