Perhaps you’ve lost your arm in a freak shaving accident, or perhaps you understand that you never know what tomorrow holds, this blog gives you a few ideas about how to develop your non-dominant hand shooting technique.
What is hand dominance?
It’s just another way of talking about being right- or left-handed. Which hand is dominant is a complex mix of genetics and environmental factors that result in either your left hemisphere or right being the boss. That, in turn, dictates which hand you instinctively use for finer tasks.
From the point of view of the majority, that means holding the pistol grip of a Steambow AR-series crossbow with the right hand, supporting it with the left, and resting the right cheek on the shoulder stock, assuming it is not the pistol-configured Compact.
Why train for non-dominant hand shooting?
The answer to that question is simply that you never know what will happen next. Let’s take three examples. One is very possible, the second somewhat plausible, and the last is unlikely but has high stakes.
Example no.1: you have taken up dynamic crossbow shooting as a sport and one course of fire states that all shots have to be taken with the non-dominant hand.
Example no.2: you’re in the kitchen fixing a sandwich and an over-exciting offspring slams the cutlery drawer shut on your fingers with more joules of energy than your phalanges can handle: fractured index finger and no more shooting for you.
Example no.3: you live in a high-crime area, your local laws allow for an AR-Series crossbow as a home defense option, and the unthinkable has happened: someone has broken in and you have a wound to your right forearm.
In those respective cases, you may score poorly in that match, have to spend a few weeks without shooting, or face serious injury or worse if you cannot dissuade your assailant. Unless you can shoot just as well with the other hand.
What to train and how?
There are many drills that the firearms community can use, but not all are suitable for crossbows, such as dry-fire exercises. On the contrary, these can damage your bow, and invalidate warranty. So let’s focus on what does work with crossbows.
“Draw and aim”
This is more a case of shoulder and aim, since a crossbow cannot be holstered on your hip. However, raising the weapon using your weak hand as the trigger hand, slowly at first, and then building in speed will form good muscle memory for rapidly acquiring a sight picture.
All the components need to slide into place effortlessly: the weak arm finding the grip, the strong arm supporting the barrel, the cheek welding to the stock, and the eye finding and lining up the sights. Note that here, you will also need to factor in eye dominance. You may need to have a different cheek weld on your weak side to your strong one if you find that you still need to bring your dominant eye down to aim consistently.
Repetition will make it automatic, to the point that you can go from one side to the other and not suffer significant shooting disadvantages.
Live-fire exercises
The good news is that with AR-series repeating crossbows, shooting is possible indoors and out, at a range or home. Quite simply, once the above is more natural and automatic, put it into practice. Shoot at different distances. Shoot at multiple targets if you have them.
As your competence levels increase, shoot with your strong hand one time, and weak the next. All of this will help develop a seamless transition from one shooting side to the other. Pay particular attention to your trigger finger discipline when you are not actively about to shoot: that is part of muscle memory too.
In the same category, also remember to practice reloads and cocking smoothly so that your shooting will suffer as little deficit shooting from your weak hand as from your strong, and whatever life throws at you, be that a devious competition leader, wooden drawers on soft fingers, or a ruthless intruder, you can be as ready as possible to meet that challenge.
And if you have any good drills you’d like to share, write in and tell us about them.
