Discover the Difference Between Right Hand vs Left Hand Bow
The right hand vs. left hand bow can be confusing for some archers, so we have put together a guide to help you understand the difference between right handed bows and left handed bows. Left eye dominant archers will find right handed bows more difficult because they are shooting with their right eye closed. In this article, we will explore the differences in right hand vs left hand bow styles as well as left eye dominance and how it affects your choice of bow.
Right-handedness in relation to the bow is much more common than left-handedness. It has been noticed that as many as 90% of people shoot with their right hand and only 5-10% use their left hand for drawing a bowstring. The main reason for this is that most bows are designed for right-handed archers.
The right-hand bow (or simply right hand) is made of an arrow rest (that’s shaped like a wooden foot) at the bottom of the bow grip, two strings on either side of it, and has an arrow notch placed on either side of the bottom string. It doesn’t have any arrow rest placed on top, and the arrow is placed in the arrow notch closest to it. The bowstring (that’s also referred to as a bowstring) is tied around the end section of the bow grip, and rests at about 3″ above its base.
Left-hand bows are a traditional form of the bow that is used by a small number of people. They were found in a variety of cultures and were also found in the classical period. The left-hand bow (or simply left hand) features an arrow resting on top of its grip, two strings on either side of it, and has an arrow resting on both sides. It also uses four screws to attach the arrow rest to the bow grip. The bowstring is tied around the end section of its grip (just like with right hand), but rests at about 3″ below its base.
Other things that are different between the two are the materials they are made of. Left hand bows are mostly made of hardwood with thin laminates, while right hand bows can be made out of any material (including more dense wood like maple). Left-handed bows also take some time to get used to because they are manufactured in the opposite way to right-handed bows.
How to know if my arrow is a Left handed or right handed arrow
The easiest way to know if your arrow is a left-handed or right-handed arrow is by looking at what hand you are drawing it back with. However, this isn’t always the case since sometimes people draw an arrow back with their off-hand for a specific reason.
If you’re a right-handed archer, your right hand is going to hold the string and keep it steady for when your arrow hits. If you are left-handed, the opposite would be true. You will want to control the tension of your bow with your dominant hand.
What this means is that if you are a left-handed archer, your right hand will hold the arrow instead of your left.
All you have to do to check what type of arrow you are using is make sure that the fletchings are facing upwards. If they are facing towards you, it means that it’s a left-handed arrow, otherwise it’s a right-handed arrow.
This can be a bit confusing so it’s best to keep an eye on the fletching to see what side they are facing. Some archers might rotate their arrow slightly to put one hand over another so that it will look like the arrow is being held in the opposite hand, but this means that your arrow should still have the fletching facing up if you’re trying to figure out what hand your arrow is in.
Technically, it doesn’t matter which hand your arrow is being held in, but the direction that it’s pointing needs to be consistent, or else there can be some serious issues when it comes time for firing. If the arrow isn’t pointing towards the bow, it can make it way more difficult to fire and cause problems for you as an archer.
Left-handed arrows are usually identified by using pink or orange fletchings. The arrow will also often have two nock holes instead of one. The spine is important too since it’s responsible for how powerful the arrow can fly and how accurate it will be when it’s fired. High spine, low weight arrows will work well for left-handed archers because they won’t require extra power to get them to the target. This is just a general rule, there are different kinds of arrows that can be used by any kind of archer so you should be cautious about which arrow you’re using.
Can a lefty shoot a Right-handed bow?
A person who is left-handed can potentially shoot a right-handed bow. Traditionally, the arrows would be reversed to accommodate the difference in handedness. This means that the left hand is pulling back on the string and the arrow would be pulled back with the right hand (which is holding it). The right arm would be holding the bow away from the body for this to work correctly. If there are two left-handers shooting together this complication does not apply.
One example of a left-hander shooting a right-handed bow is that of Olympic Archer Eugene Herrin. He held the bow in his right hand while pulling back on the string with his left hand to fire shots at targets. This was because he was attempting to compete in the category for right-handers, not because he needed to shoot right-handed.
There are some instances in which the left-hander must shoot right-handed for safety reasons. If the arrow nock (the tip of the arrow) does not fit onto his or her left hand then it cannot be shot at all, unless held by an individual with a dominant right hand. The risk of injuring their left hand when releasing the arrow is too much.
In conclusion, a left-hander can shoot a right-handed bow for target practice or competition purposes. It may be necessary to use a grip that is less common in order to accommodate the difference in handedness, but it can be done. There are also some instances when it could be dangerous for a left-hander to shoot right-handed, so it may not always be an option.
Can a right-handed shoot a left-handed bow?
In many cases, a right-handed person will be able to shoot a left-handed bow. In some cases, even though a right-handed person can shoot a left-handed bow, it may not be as easy as shooting a right-handed bow. The archer using the left-handed bow will need to adjust grip and stance for this to happen.
Also, if someone who has never shot before tries to shoot with either the left or the right hand they will most likely not know how to hold and handle the bow and arrow properly. For instance, one of the main problems people have with shooting is that they tend to put their fingers on the string of the bow instead of just holding on with their thumb and the palm of their hand. Unfortunately, this can result in a severe bowstring burn which is certainly not a good feeling.
Some believe that it is important for all archers to train with both left and right-handed bows in order to get used to shooting them – your dominant side may feel more comfortable, but you will still need to switch hands to become a more well-rounded and accurate archer.
The majority of bows are made for right-handers, and it is also easier for left-handed people to use right-handed equipment because the bowstring is on the opposite side. However, many people who shoot left-handed compound bows (which have a rotating cam that shoots the arrow) find that right-handed bows are more powerful and accurate.
Is it better for me to shoot with my left eye dominant bow or right eye dominant bow?
This is a common question, but there’s no single answer. There are two things to think about; the position of your body and the location of your boat anchor point (arrow release point).
First, if you’re not sure which eye is dominant you can determine this by drawing an arrow on paper with both eyes open and then closing one eye. To be considered right-eye dominant the line should go down; to be considered left-eye dominant the line should go up.
Second, how is your stance? If you have a lot of space in front of you and a narrow stance, shooting from your left shoulder might be preferable. If you have less space in front of you and a wider stance, shooting from your right shoulder might be preferable.
Third, where is your bow anchor point? If it’s around chin level or slightly above, then shooting with the opposite eye dominant bow might not present an issue at all. However, if you are using what would normally be considered a left-eye dominant bow, but your anchor point is right below or above your ear, it might be difficult to find depth perception.
Fourth, what type of equipment are you shooting? If you are using a single pin scope then the chin-to-ear rule will not necessarily apply. You can shoot with either eye dominant bow without worrying about this.
Shooting left-handed will not necessarily make you more accurate because it is still difficult to find depth perception when the anchor point is below or above your ear, but it can help to minimize cross-dominance issues if you are already right eye dominant.
Importance of knowing about left-handed and right-handed bows
The majority of archers shoot right-handed bows because it’s natural to push with the left hand and pull with the right hand. This means that the arrow will travel in a straight line after leaving the bow because your arms and body form a “wall” and there is no torque (turning force) on the string. The arrows travel in a straight line instead of rotating around toward the archer.
Left-handed archers are rare because it’s natural to shoot right-handed bows with your dominant hand pulling on the string, but their numbers are growing over time. Those who do shoot left-handed bows have the opposite issue that many right-handed people do when they try to shoot a left-handed bow. Left-handed archers have to use their non-dominant hand to push because it’s unnatural for them to pull with the dominant left hand, so arrows travel in a curve away from the shooter instead of straight away.
Left-handers are encouraged to try shooting right-handed bows once they get into archery and then adjust to shooting the opposite way once they’re more comfortable.
It’s important to know if a bow is left-handed or right-handed because it affects how spotting scopes and other equipment are mounted on the bow, where you can find someone to go out hunting with, what kind of arrows you’ll need, which arm you’ll need to pull back to shoot, and which hand will hold the bow.
Exercises for Left-Handed Archers
You might not know this, but left-handed people have a harder time when it comes to archery because the bow strings are on the wrong side of the frame for them! Give your lefty friends a fighting chance in the world of sports with these exercises for left-handed archers.
Activity 1: Concentration!
Left-handed archers need to hold the bow with their left hand and draw the string back with their right hand. This means that they have to concentrate on moving opposite arms at the same time, which takes a lot of brain power. Try these concentration exercises to help your friend get better at concentrating when archery season comes back again:
1. Draw a star with your opposite arm, and then draw the same star with your other hand. Repeat this as many times as you can! Then switch handedness and do it again.
Activity 2: Strength!
The kind of strength needed for archery is not just arm or wrist strength – it’s a combination of arm and wrist strength, combined with strong shoulders and a straight back. Try these exercises to build up the muscles your friend needs for archery:
1. Hold a weight in one hand at shoulder height. Lift it above your head with your other hand, then lower it back to shoulder height. Repeat this as many times as you can, then switch arms and do it again.
2. Hold a weight in one hand at shoulder height and hold it above your head with the other arm. Lift the weight as high as you can so that both arms are stretched out straight, and lower it back to shoulder height. Repeat this as many times as you can before switching arms.
Activity 3: Speed!
Archery is all about speed, getting the arrow loaded and the bowstring pulled back in time so your aim is not off. Try these exercises to help your friend get better at drawing the string back quickly:
1. Draw a dot on a sheet of paper with one hand, then draw another dot with the other hand as quickly as you can. Try to make both dots look exactly the same by comparing them with each other! Then switch hands and do it again.
2. Draw a dot with one hand, then draw another dot with your opposite arm. Compare the two dots – are they different? If so, try again until they look exactly the same.
Activity 4: Balance!
Balance is important for archery because it helps you keep your posture straight and strong to achieve a good aim. Try these exercises to build up your friend’s balance:
1. Stand on one leg and lift the other leg above your waist, then lower it as far as you can go without stumbling. Repeat with the other leg and keep doing this as many times as you can without falling over.
2. Stand on one leg and lift your arm up in front of you like an airplane propeller, then lower it again and repeat with the other arm. Try to make each movement with both arms at the same time!
3. Stand on one leg and point your toe out to the side, then bring it back to the center. Keep pointing it out as far as you can, which will make you lose your balance a little bit each time, then bring it back from that position. Repeat with the other foot.
Activity 5: Breathing!
Finally, breathing is surprisingly important for archery! If you hold your breath while you’re drawing the bowstring back, then your aim will most likely be off. Try these breathing exercises to help your friend become a better archer:
1. Breathe in deeply and count to three as you exhale slowly, feeling all of the air leave you body. Keep breathing in and out, counting each time. Do this for a minute or two to help your friend get better at breathing slowly while archery practicing.
2. Breathe in deeply through your nose and hold all of the air inside you until it starts hurting, then exhale very rapidly through your mouth for as long as you can on one breath. Do this again, but only half as long. Then try one breath in and out for a couple of seconds to get better at breathing slowly while practicing archery.
3. Hold your nose tightly with one hand, then breathe in deeply through your mouth and hold it for five seconds before exhaling the air through your nose once your friend lets go of your nose. Practice this several times slowly – it will make you breathe in slowly and exhale slowly, which is what helps with good aim in archery.
4. Hold one end of a rope at waist height, then tie the other end tightly around your back above your belly button so that you are bound up like a turkey! Breathe in through your nose for three seconds, then breathe out slowly through your mouth. Repeat this until you feel a little bit better about breathing slowly while practicing archery.
