Archery | Left or Right?

We take a look at a common misunderstanding in buying bow equipment: are you meant to buy left-handed or right-handed equipment?
As a rule of thumb, all equipment is based on your shooting hand (i.e. the hand you draw the string with), and this applies to every piece of equipment - arrow rests, spin wing vanes, chest guards, quivers, etc.
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[@S4suk3S4mur41]

Yeah! Finally! I am going to buy my first bow and i really needed a video like this. Thanks!

[@gielandreileano6185]

What bow did you get ?

[@g-stergaming4502]

@@gielandreileano6185 5 years later I read this and am raging he didnt answer :P

[@gielandreileano6185]

@@g-stergaming4502 damn I used to watch these kinds of videos ? What a loser

[@uprrrailfan6615]

@@g-stergaming4502still waiting 2 years later

[@spigot993]

I'm dominant left and some bows are only available in right, so I feel like I could be the Jimi Hendrix of archery. Okay I'll get my coat...

[@thatmoonchild3095]

Sometimes that doesn’t matter I am right handed in almost anything but when it comes to a bow or gun I a left handed

[@Ullish1989]

I'm all over the place. Dominant left eye, guitar player right hand, surf left foot, write with my left hand.... just randomness

[@YaxisX]

This is such an important video. NUSensei, you have produced an archery lesson that is absolutely a basic necessity. There is so much misninformation, no doubt well intended, but just the same, many people get so complicated about everything. Thank you brother.

[@OFishAl]

Honestly, this channel is absolutely invaluable. A family member and I have just started our Archery journey with a taster session last week and our beginners course started last night. I am learning so much from you, so thank you again for putting this together. I've just found out I'm actually a left handed archer based upon eye dominance so am learning a whole new set of movements which is very odd. We've been asked to get our own finger and arm guards and this video has been perfect in helping me out, getting the right kit for the right orientation!

[@dazeen9591]

My predominant eye is my right one but I feel more comfortable holding the bow with my right hand and drawing with my left. I reckon I'll have to try both sides to see which I'm more precise with.

[@gurnblanstein9816]

Shoot left-handed and just close your right eye

[@chrissellner7657]

I'm left handed right eye dominate. Wonder how you settled ?!

[@DannyCasino]

As a beginner you just answer the question I had in my head but was afraid to sound stupid to ask anybody else but thank you sir you answered my question and now me and my family could eat when the apocalypse comes. ..

[@geminidream4347]

Thank you so much for pointing this out for a beginner to know the hand they need order because of the quarantine in place now in 2020 and accessories. So happy that I found you to walk me through everything.

[@mortiusvicimus8901]

+NUSensei I LOVE YOU, MAN! lol I just bought a Mandarin Duck Recurve bow and it said "right hand." I REALLY wanted that bow, so I was practising on how to hold the Riser with my right hand Whew! What a relief! You are the greatest, brother!

[@FishFisher77]

Ive been a left handed bowhunter for 20 years until i damaged my left eye due to high blood pressure. Ive recently started shooting my righted handed PSE and I've found myself wanting to close my right eye instantly. Even though when it happens i get frustrated and then i switch my eyes. Its been frustrating and its like training myself all over again.

[@skorpius752]

One should keep both eyes open while shooting anything, except benchrest rifle.

[@didipunk8915]

Keep going sir..

[@relaxwithme786]

Thanks for making it clear bro, I want to buy a bow and this is what I was confused about best wishes from Melbourne Australia

[@DefensorsPacis]

I'm right handed, and am dominant with my right hand for probably 95% of tasks. However, for some reason, there are many tasks that require fine motor control I just can't do easily with my right, yet accomplish with little to no effort with my left. Something along the lines of selective ambidexterity, and bows are one of the things this was expressed in for me. I had great difficult accurately aiming the bow, and it just felt "awkward" when I tried to shoot it right handed (as you described in the video). However, when I switched to left handed shooting, I found that it came much more intuitively and my accuracy quickly improved. I'm a little interested to see how a person's handedness relates to which type of bow they buy, and how common it is for the "opposite handed" bow to be favored by archers. And just because I've confused myself a little here, I'm just saying that: I'm right handed, but heavily favor left handed bows, and I'm curious if anyone has had a similar experience.

[@LeeDavisHomeOffice]

OK, I *THINK* I know how you feel, as I'm dominant Left-handed. BUT, for some reason, the "Right-Handed" shooting position works well for me. Whereas trying to shoot with the left hand leaves me colder than a fish in the Artic Ocean on the night before Xmas (lol!). Is that strange to anyone else? Haven't investigated the "Dominant Eye" science yet, but I have a Falcon 60" (not sure if that's the brand- it's what's written) right-handed bow.

[@Xarkom89]

Thank you, this cleared it up for me with regards to which hand to get. I wasn't sure what was the requirement that makes a bow left or right handed. So it's the hand you draw the bow and not the one you hold it with. (Just looking to get into Archery)

[@andiwilding9268]

hah thanks, i was just sat here thinking id feel more comfortable holding the bow with my left looking at a left model. glad I came here.

[@Marvelous_spider-teen]

As a lefty myself I always wondered if I need a left or right handed bow mainly cause when I did archery I used a left and a right but both felt so weird so thx for the video on witch I should actually look for

[@PhongHoang-nz4im]

I found this weird, I'm a righty, but I get used to hold a bow on my right and draw the string with my left, I'm I doing it wrong?

[@NUSensei]

It's not wrong if you feel more comfortable shooting an opposite-handed bow.

[@ellejohnson9555]

I'm the same way

[@borneoagathis5920]

That would be wonderful if you are cross eye dominant; that is if you're left eye dominant.

[@krisvq]

My right eye is dominant (implying left handedness) and I'm about 70% left 'handed' especially with foot work control. However when it comes to hands control I'm a learned right handed and I'm not sure if I could do a left handed bow. How do you aproach that?

[@Terratorta]

Thank You! Before this video i did not know they mean "holder hand" or "drawing hand"

[@porterejohn]

Very helpful video NuSensei! Tks!

[@RoasterMcdougalify]

great video. Answered a lot of questions I had.

[@blazed-xg4jv]

Thank you for this,, it was very helpful

[@cyberneticxylem9614]

Are there any modern ambidextrous bows?

[@anubis4791]

Plz I need that

[@jeanmonice7856]

Thank you for the clarification, I was confuse

[@roderickconstantino5354]

I would like to be ambidextrous. No joke. What are your thoughts on ambidextrous recurves?

[@gurnblanstein9816]

Go by whatever your eye dominance is

[@4BoxersWebDesign]

Thank you Brother. That really clears up some things. My arrows were hitting the target so cock-eyed in keyholes to the right.. I am a Lefty, I was trying to shoot RH. :-)

[@jihlnabaat6329]

your teaching is amazing thank you

[@DrawingTechnical]

Thanks for clarifying, I was confused. I'm a right handed shooter. I'm a right handed shooter. I'm a right handed shooter. By the way, what's that certificate on your wall at the back?

[@tuttuti123]

The only thing that dragged me back being a left handed shooter is my school don't have a left handed set so im stuck with a right handed one for 3 years until I transferred school and never touched archery again. Gonna buy a left handed one soon.

[@theamazinggoldfish8713]

Nu sensei, The phantom has an either left "or" right hand, grip. QUESTION> If I my right eye is dominant, could I put my sights and a wisket bisket on a "left handed" bow for easier loading?

[@TheBlondBella]

I'm right eye dominant...but I'm left handed. Thoughts?

[@MsDivale]

Use a right-handed bow. It's not that hard to train your non-dominant hand to pull the string but it's nearly impossible to change your eye dominance.

[@TheBlondBella]

thanks!

[@darylphuah]

I'm the reverse of you, right handed but left eye dominant. I would suggest going to a store/club and shoot both types and see which feels more natural to you. I was strongly recommended to go right-handed by clubs and stores, mostly because equipment is easier to get and you "can" mitigate the eye dominance At the end of the day I still went with left handed because it was more natural to me.

[@OriginalThisAndThat]

How the hell you know which eye is dominant? Im right handed, but I shoot from left and I dont feel any difference with aiming side eye, it only feels more comfortable to shoot from left.. Shooting with rifle, I hold stock normally right shoulder. Confused.

[@ShakeMilkyWay1]

Randomnick123 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4Ovq3uLqJuWfM0

[@gordwrath6811]

I'm ambidextrous. I can shoot left or right handed. The same for writing, and musical instruments. I can actually use left handed methods in a right handed way, and vice versa. Either way, my aim sucks. I have been practicing mainly with right hand on bows, and I have to aim, down and to the right, to hit a target straight on. From 25 lbs to 40 lbs bow strength, it always the same, I have to aim that way to hit a target. What do you think I am doing wrong?

[@_JohnnySav]

Thank you NUSensei you rock!!! If you need Music for your channel please let me know!

[@pinkslowbro633]

Phew thank you for this!!! I borrowed a makeshift bamboo bow and arrow before from a friend. Being left handed, its a good thing its ambidextrous. 🤣🤣🤣

[@i_Chicky]

This is sooooo helpful, Thank You 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ETV101]

So im right handed for everything but i cant shoot a bow with my right arm i feel more comfortable pulling with my left arm and holding with the right plus my dominant eye is the left so should i buy left handed equipment?

[@lordpatrickgames234]

Quick question him a beginner my strong arm is the left and my weak arm is the right which one should I use to hold the bow??

[@Ullish1989]

I'm really struggling with knowing what hand is best for me. I'm mixed dexterity. So I write with my left hand and do some other things left handed but I also do a lot of stuff right handed such as play guitar. When I did archery in high school they just told me to do it left handed and my left arm feels more controlled... but the rest of my view etc feels strange. On the contrary, my right arm feels weaker but it feels now...."right"

[@rezaamanat6959]

I'm left handed and left eye dominant. Where I live there are no left handed bows available so I'm stuck with a regular right handed bow. I don't have any problems with ergonomics of the handle. And I'm going for barebow style of shooting. Is there anything I can do to compensate for any other errors that might happen ? Thanks in advance for your help

[@desma8597]

Sensei, I have riser with 2 arrowpass, both left and right, can I use it in competition? Im right handed only use left side of my riser , thx

[@NWinnVR]

I'm a left handed shooter that uses a right handed bow because left handed bows and gear are _insanely_ expensive. I still hit the target more oft than not, so it works for me.

[@christophmuller9400]

Nice tie collection in the back.

[@carlossalazar972]

I've looked at two different bows, both of which I really like. one of them is the jaguar elite by Martin archery. the other is a ATROPOS-163 pro. I'm having trouble finding a left handed version of these bows. it's been hard finding any manufacturers that give the archer the option to choose a right or left handed riser. the only recurve bow I've found that has this option is the sage and a couple other wooden bows but that's not what I'm looking for. do you have any suggestions?

[@AndyBarkerBee]

I am so weird... I write and do most actions/sports with my right hand, but I have ALWAYS felt more powerful and comfortable shooting left, whilst I can shoot with BOTH hands. (Not that I am special or anything... just an amateur that has fun from time to time. Olympic team not calling anytime soon. Hah!). Oddly enough, started Boxing this year and my coach noted that all the power and best moves come from my left while South Paw stance suits me slightly better.

[@f.bronnert2975]

Very useful video !! My right eye is amblyopic, the shop had only right-handed bows, and no staff was able to tell me that a right handed bow is held with the left hand while you pull the string with the right hand, which is not ok for me, because in that case you use the right eye. Thanks ...

[@VndNvwYvvSvv]

+NUSensei, I have a question about which handedness to choose. Firstly, I'm right handed and fire scoped rifles right handed. I am usually left eye dominant when I test myself, though sometimes right eyed, and I can switch my eye dominance back and forth while looking at an object with a bit of concentration. I know there are some simple and effective methods of training eye dominance. Would you begin training right handed/right eyed, or choose left handed equipment if you were in my position? I'm also on a tight budget because this is just a new side hobby for me. Thanks in advance for your insight.

[@NUSensei]

If you have trained yourself to the point where you can switch eye dominance (which is something that adults can achieve), I'd go right-handed. Don't hold me to it though - the variation in success between favouring hand over eye is very large.

[@heathersunny6881]

Thank you for this video

[@gregkosa7124]

THX for your help M8, you save my money and my nervs. THX very much.

[@Anythingforyou11]

Thank you ❤

[@ccb7122]

Your videos are awesome!

[@seleuma]

hiya i am a righ handed person generaly but with the bow i am a lefty so the question is i put the arrow on the right in the raiser and i put the arrow feathers in the inside of the raiser and i am quite accurate like that, is that correct? if you know what i mean. thank you i love your videos they are funny and easy to understand.

[@hetalziendoog9484]

Great video but still confusing.. In my case I am fully right handed and fully left eye dominant, so my philosophy goes as follows what feels most natural to me.. Since I am right handed this arm is the strongest, so I would like to pull the string with that hand - the left hand would feel most natural to just keep the riser steady.. So this is called a right handed bow which does makes sense explaining it like this.. Anyway my left foot is then forward which also means my dominant left eye is closest to the target and the arrow is on the left side of the riser too.. So the best anchoring position would be pulling the string to my left eye with my right hand and make my right eye obsolete doing so.. If that is even possible!? it does affects the draw distance, arrow size ect - so now what? I do not know if this all makes sense, please correct me if I am wrong or tell me who feels the same.. So weird because for darts I am actually right foot forward, skating is also in regular position for me same for snowboarding, however then again my fighting stance is left foot forward.. 0.o

[@roughminj]

Very useful guide

[@siffle4249]

I’m right handed and right eyed and I use a left handed bow

[@thebeast1628]

Thanks for sharing

[@ithinkmynameismoo5e]

What are your thoughts on Flemish twist vs Endless loop?

[@human8903]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!!!

[@skynet159632]

I am a Left hand recurve shooter, and now Im moving up to buy my own bow im getting a right hand compound bow, to me the only problem seem to be that im not used to using my left hand to hold the bow up but otherwise it seem fine.

[@mankindanddestiny7798]

It's really hard to hold the bow grip with a left hand and shoot with the right hand than you think I prefer the opposite it's more accurate and more comfortable

[@virginiavallek1654]

That's exactly what I do. It's probably because I was originally a lefty but teacher move the pencil to My right

[@reallegendsneverdie5259]

I don't know but to me I was always unable to shoot on the left side of the bow (right handed) but I have no arrow rest; the bow has never hit my face

[@DavidWhewell1]

Thanks for this - so sensible!!

[@bricenray7997]

THANK. YOU.

[@noahdabbay1623]

Im right handed.. but im more comfortable pulling the string on my left hand.. em i doing it wrong??

[@MrPuttaThailandGet]

thank you​ so much​ 🙏💓

[@NakedUndone]

I'm naturally left-handed, but I bought a right-handed bow. When I was learning guitar, I insisted on using a left-handed guitar. I'm not making that mistake again!

[@johnlemuelm.santiago6036]

So if you hold it in the left hand the arrow is in the left side and vice versa

[@miguelbolado1280]

Thank you for this 👍👍

[@openeyes7198]

Im naturally left handed but have a stronger right arm (pull string)so id be right handed, but I'm blind in my right eye. So I would have to learn to shoot left hand ? I shoot a gun left hand trigger.

[@astralmew]

so i have shot a bow before and i hit the bullseye after taking my 4 shot i was like 26 feet apart idk if thats good or not but i was 12 then and since then i wanted a bow but i couldnt get one cuz i dont have money to buy one idk what cheap but good recurve bow is good for me im like 170cm tall rn and almost 14 :D

[@FlyingSuperElvis]

Thanks!

[@Krizefugl]

so this is weird for me. im right handed but using bows im a left handed shooter. i couldnt do it the other way around. same with eating with fork and knife. people say you should hold the fork in the left hand. but for me its always in the right. im weird

[@Siberius-]

I too put the fork in the right hand and and the knife in the left. So does my girlfriend. Fuck the system! Whatever's comfy. What you really need to consider is which is your dominant eye.

[@saurlex1368]

Me too...

[@mballhaus]

Oh my gosh exactly the same with me

[@Ismail-kv3ex]

Lots of people dont know this but the bow hand is determined by which eye of yours is dominant I am also right handed, but my left eye is dominant, so i hold the bow in mt right hand also, same with the knife and fork Finally, if u want to know which eye is dominant, look at an object about 30ft away, and point to it. Close one eye at a time and whichever eye is more accurate is your dominant eye Good hunting.

[@DmncPalm]

Same, I even shoot pool lefty.

[@sombojoe]

The left handed or right handed isn’t based on the eye dominance?

[@thealonestargazer]

Everyone on used item sites don't know about the right or left handed bows, or are the pictures all flipped, hmmm.

[@avnindersingh5774]

Can you help me where to find one for left handed i use amazon and can’t find one i am really upset

[@dxdjoshua8799]

thankyou for this vidio i will be sure to check out your channel more thouroly before i ask a question next time

[@ivanawahyudi3367]

I wanted to ask, first generation of bows doesn't have arrow rest (CMIIW), so how do they keep the arrow aim steady?

[@FPChris]

Which eye do you close to aim ? Same as pulling hand?

[@NUSensei]

Neither. Most archers shoot with both eyes open.

[@FPChris]

@@NUSensei Thanks. Just getting into it. I'm left handed with dom right eye. I think I may go ahead and get a right handed bow. It's not that awkward and would probably feel natural in a short period of time. Great videos btw. very helpful

[@GregLionProductions]

i have always been intrigued by archery and i think im ready to finally give it a try. I have zero interest in tech and want to keep it as natural and intuitive as possible. what would you recommend for a left handed beginner? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[@NUSensei]

Start with a barebow recurve. Something like the Samick Polaris, Samick Sage, OMP Adventure or SF Optima+ will satisfy you.

[@NUSensei]

Start with a barebow recurve. Something like the Samick Polaris, Samick Sage, OMP Adventure or SF Optima+ will satisfy you.

[@NUSensei]

Start with a barebow recurve. Something like the Samick Polaris, Samick Sage, OMP Adventure or SF Optima+ will satisfy you.

[@GregLionProductions]

I'll look those up. Thank you!

[@sebacastillos]

And if you are right handed and your dominant eye is the left? do I have to use a left handed bow?

[@Nanorisk]

yes.

[@acbaez604]

thank you good sir

[@RavensBreath]

Hey #nusensei I want this bow in link, I have been shooting a Hungarian Asiatic bow so no arrow rest, the site says arrow rest side, if I shoot right handed on my asiatic bow with the arrow rest on my left finger and hand on the left side, with this bow I would also choose left arrow rest or left hand side even though I shoot right handed correct?

[@RavensBreath]

www.crowshead.com/sierra-longbow/

[@NUSensei]

Yes.

[@cosminbota7729]

Mulțumesc mult p.t sfat!

[@1683clifton]

im right handed and right eyed, but everytime i pick up a bow im left and keft eye too.

[@zynaryzaidi7883]

Subscribed! Your vid is the best.

[@OscarLopez-u2u]

I chose left handed bow because I’m left handed idk if I made the right choice now

[@ioannisstephanides6251]

Hey man i am new to all this archery thing and i am a left handed. But i am comfortable holding the string with my right hand. So should i buy a right handed bow or a left handed bow?

[@NUSensei]

Your eye dominance will be the main factor.

[@ioannisstephanides6251]

Thank you for the quick reply! My dominant eye is my left eye so would i get used to holding the string with my left hand (as i said i am comfortable holding the string with my right hand even if i am a left handed)

[@NUSensei]

It's usually easier to train up your handedness than your eye dominance. Since you are naturally left-handed, this may be the best combination for you.

[@ioannisstephanides6251]

+NUSensei Ok thank you!

[@hageogeo1561]

nice video man, really helpfull.

[@tranmanh8364]

I use left hand but when i aim and shoot i keep my right eye open. That ok? Sensei

[@NUSensei]

Using two eyes open is normal. Closing your left eye while shooting left-handed is not. This will make aiming very difficult.

[@TheMisterInsane]

Hello, so im thinking on getting into archery with my father, but he is left handed and im right handed, is there a bow that can be used by both of us? sorry for bad english

[@NUSensei]

There are few options, unless you want to share a cheap beginner fiberglass bow. The PSE Snake is an example of an ambidextrous bow.

[@TheMisterInsane]

Thank you for responding so quickly. Im willing to spend 120-150 dollors for a bow can you recomend something? P.S we dont have an archery shop in our city so i have to buy it on internet.

[@NUSensei]

PSE Snake, as I mentioned above, is probably the kind of bow you are looking for if you want an ambidextrous bow.

[@TheMisterInsane]

Thank you very much for your help. :)

[@E-BikingAdventures]

I'm a lefty and I just ordered a cheep right handed bow, the top archery recurve $100. It has a very symmetrical handle and I'm convinced that I can use it without any problems. It's an experiment as I already own a left handed bow. Your argument that you can't see the arrow properly through the sight window does not make sense. If you think about it, the sight window is open on the same side as my left(domminant) eye. Non of your other arguments have any logical or explanitory resoning behind them. Like it's uncommon or unorthodox or the arrow goes on the wrong side or everything is on the wrong side. Explain why it won't work instead of just saying everything is on the wrong side.

[@WelshmanSudios]

what compound bow do you use?

[@Prozakc.O]

lee Lewis he don’t use compound he addressed it on his channel

[@harruwu2176]

I'm getting that riser for christmas

[@RanbirSethi]

Can someone pls recommend a left handed bow under 100$

[@reddiesteady9989]

Thank you. Is video helped

[@alventuradelacruz522]

I'm dominant left and dominant left hand

[@aliceg5327]

BE CAREFUL: In my country, a bow will be called right handed if you hold it with your right hand. It's better to make sure.

[@paulbritt19]

This helped a lug thanks man!

[@ralakus8784]

lug

[@Prozakc.O]

Lug

[@taviskaczanowski3924]

I don't understand what eye dominance is..... I shoot pistols and rifles left handed and aim with my left eye. If I decide to shoot right handed, I simply use my right eye. I absolutely CANNOT, however, shoot a bow left handed.....

[@arapahosundancer]

we need more shooting with left handed bow instructions, any ideas?

[@TheSpandexcatcher]

right handed, left eye dominenta dn using a bow right handed feels so uncomfortable for me, but with guns grip and stock right sided, my body hates me

[@Gerento7]

When I was about 9 I had a nerf mega thunderbow, can that determine it? 😂

[@social3ngin33rin]

What if you are right hand, but left eye dominant?

[@NUSensei]

If you're asking about which hand to use, I've covered this in my Eye Dominance video. Some people find it easier to train their non-dominant eye; other find it easier to train their non-dominant hand.

[@social3ngin33rin]

ah ok thank you :D