If you are a new archer, chances are you’ll start shooting the bow by attaching the release, then pull back and peep with one eye to aim. Aiming with one eye closed is not the best technique. In the beginning, it works well but you’ll realize some tension and the need to have both eyes open at full draw. Find out why you will appreciate more the archery eye blinder while looking through the peep.

The Importance of the Eye Binder

The majority of veteran archers shoot with their two eyes open. But this may not work for beginners as they will be distracted by multiple images. Luckily, the eye blinder is a great solution, which is better than closing one eye. It is designed for archers that shoot left-handed with the right eye as the dominant one, or right-handed with the left eye being dominant. That means you can comfortably shoot with both eyes open. As such, you won’t face the challenge of the dominant eye taking over the sight hence eliminating double vision. Its non-reflective surface will be facing your eye to keep off any distractions from adjacent lanes. When you’re not using it, the archery eye blinder attaches itself to a baseball hat.

Keep Your Brain Focused

Suppose you are right-handed. Then your right eye is your go-to eye. By blocking the left eye’s field of view, your brain can work easily on what’s in sight. If you open both eyes, the brain will get confused, so you may not know what to do. After a short while, the brain ignores what the left eye sees and you will reach a point of not recognizing what information is being perceived by that non-aiming eye. Sometimes, you have to squint the non-dominant eye for the dominant eye to focus but soon you’ll get back on track. If you are left-handed, avoid shooting with the right hand as it will be more difficult to focus. That’s why you need the eye binder especially during long sessions of archery.

No More Fatigue

The biggest problem of closing one eye is fatigue. After shooting for hours, you might experience blurry vision in the eye you’ve been closing. At full draw, your dominant eye can only remain open for so long. If you practice holding for a while before shooting, your view may start to turn black, meaning you have to refocus on aiming in the next shot. This would take a more extended period at full draw than expected, creating a negative effect on accuracy downrange.

But things change positively when both eyes are open courtesy of the archery eye binder. You don’t have to worry about eye fatigue and you could look downrange all day long without blurred vision. It will start making sense when you get to the real hunting game.

There are many ways to practice archery but consistency is the key when it comes to aiming. You have probably identified your best aiming style. Be sure to maintain it for every shot and most importantly, watch out for your eyelids as they can have a huge impact on your precision. Execute your skills in a relaxed state and don’t be too conscious about closing one eye. And no matter what, never close both eyes!