Posted: 9/12/2020 3:39:37 PM EDT
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My 9 year old daughter has taken an interest in archery and I would love to have something else we can do together. She is very right handed but also very left eye dominant. Once I realized this it was much easier to teach her to shoot a rifle left handed. She has shot her Bear Scout toy bow right handed and shows potential, but every time she shoots the first shot goes way wide and I have to remind her about which eye to use but after that she is good to go. I'd like to get her a decent ladies/youth compound to move into. She's very tall for her age at 4'10" so I don't want to get her something too small. Before I do this I want to make sure if I should be leading her into LH or RH shooting. I looks like many good bows can be had for leftys. At her young age is it best to just start LH and call it a day? Like I said she shoots long guns much more naturally left handed but I figured the strength thing might be more of an issue with archery. All feedback is greatly appreciated. |
Have Bill call me.
| +1 for doing it based on the eyes not the hands. Archery is a two handed sport, both are fully involved and critical. The eyes decide which side the bow should be on and you just practice till your hands do it correctly. Since she's very new, no real issue. It's only a problem when someone's shot for a few years and tries to switch. THAT take a while to unlearn and relearn. I intentionally shoot lefty now and then just to make it easier for me when I need to demonstrate something for a lefty beginner. I'm lousy at it, but I can demonstrate proper form and make sure a bow is decently sighted in to get started. The hardest part for me these days is the draw cycle. I have trouble doing it with anything approaching my usual poundage. |
Lol. Update. Started her shooting lefty and didn't look back. We picked a Diamond Prism and started her out at about 13lbs. She's now drawing 32lbs @ 22.5" and keeps up with me pretty well on the woods field course at our club. She is a better listener than most people and once told something usually that's all it takes. So much so that she routinely points out when I have bad form or start to grip the bow.  She's also received some informal instruction and pointers from some of the coaches at the club as well which has helped. The only thing I'm having an issue with her is slapping the trigger on the index release. She does better the couple times I've had her blind bale but as soon as a target is in front of her back to slapping. Now my 8 year old son is wanting to start. He right/right so equipment will be a little easier. |
Have Bill call me.