BLIND IN ONE EYE, CAN’T SEE OUT OF THE OTHER

MY shooting has really dropped off over the past three months. When it wasn’t getting any better I took the steps to arrest the decline. First was to practice more. That helped at practice but I was still falling down in competition.

I have always had a cross eye dominance issue and maybe my eyes are changing in middle age.

Secondly, I purchased Offeye. A cling vinyl patch that attaches to the left lens of my glasses. It still allows me peripheral sighting of the clay target and depth of field.

But it obscures the target somewhat and forces my right eye to work harder. Because I depend so heavily on my prescription glasses the cling vinyl adhesion of the Offeye was ideal.

It allows me to remove the screen patch and see normally without the lens being marked or dirty.

This is very handy in the field or range where clean water is not always available to wash the lens.

To check if you have an eye dominance problem here is a simple test.

1. Pick an object in the distance to “aim” at, such as a light fixture, picture, or door knob.

2. Make a circle with your thumb and index finger, holding it away from your face.

3. Centre the circle around that object, as though framing it in a picture.

4. Close one eye, then the other. Whichever eye keeps the object within the circle is your dominant eye.

If, as in my case the dominant eye is not on the same side as the shoulder to which you mount your shotgun you may be missing targets for this very reason.

When I used the Offeye patch I found it really did make my right eye work on the target.

I am still closing my left eye just as the gun mounts to my shoulder and the target seems to just light up and become so apparent.

In one 50 target event recently, I improved five targets in the second round of 25 when I employed Offeye.

Since then I have practiced twice with Offeye.

My skeet score returned to a satisfactory score of 23 and Five Stand to the same. Previous to Offeye I scored 16 in skeet and 14 in Sporting clays.

If you are experiencing a problem with cross eye dominance, I recommend you get along to your favourite gun shop and check out Offeye.

For your money you get six patches. They range from 20 per cent, 40 per cent, 60 per cent and 80 per cent screens and two with a frost on them. Choose which one works best for you.

The Unload on the Toad two-day event has a prize pool that continues to grow.

Pedders Brakes and Suspension have donated a $1500 voucher, Prestige Automotive, two light bars to the value of $700, Tree and Earth industries, $500 cash, Alenco NT, $1000 cash, Yebana Quarry $500 voucher, Garmin have provided two inReach two-way satellite communicator/GPS valued at $600 each and Spika prizes valued at $400.

The event is organised by Coolalinga Guns & Ammo in conjunction with NT Field and Game and will be held on June 1 and 2.

It is an event aimed at juniors, ladies, families and all who want to try clay target shooting for the first time.

The NT Field and Game clay target range at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex is open for practice on Fridays at 4pm till 9pm.

There is Sunday Mass practice this morning from 9am till noon.

There is 50 target Simulated Field event from 8am on April 21. All are welcome at NT Field and Game.

The NT Field and Game range is available to any sized group on Friday afternoon or can be booked for private/corporate functions at other times.