Eye Dominance In Darts: Does It Matter?

You're right-handed but your left eye is dominant. Or you're left-handed with a dominant right eye.

Does this matter for darts?

Short answer: Yes, but not in the way most people think.

Your dominant eye doesn't determine which hand you throw with. It determines which side of your body you should align from.

What Is Eye Dominance?

Eye dominance (ocular dominance): Which eye your brain prefers for visual input when both eyes are open.

It's not about vision quality. Both eyes might have perfect vision, but your brain trusts one eye more for spatial positioning.

Why it exists: Your two eyes see slightly different images (parallax). Your brain picks one eye as the "reference" for depth perception and alignment.

Important: Eye dominance is independent of handedness. You can be right-handed with left eye dominance (cross-dominant) or right-handed with right eye dominance (same-side dominant).

How To Check Your Eye Dominance

Test 1: Triangle Test (Most Reliable)

Steps:

1. Extend both arms in front of you
2. Form a small triangle with your hands (thumbs and index fingers touching)
3. Look at a distant object through the triangle (dartboard works perfectly)
4. Keep both eyes open
5. Slowly bring your hands back toward your face while keeping the object centered in the triangle
6. Your hands will naturally move to one eye - that's your dominant eye

What happens: Your brain automatically brings the triangle to your dominant eye because that's the eye it trusts for alignment.

Test 2: Pointing Test

Steps:

1. Pick a distant object (dartboard bullseye)
2. Extend your arm and point at it with your index finger
3. Keep both eyes open
4. Close your left eye - does your finger stay on target?
5. Open left eye, close right eye - does your finger stay on target?

Result: Whichever eye keeps your finger aligned with the target is your dominant eye.

Test 3: Paper Tube Test

Steps:

1. Roll a piece of paper into a tube
2. Hold it with both hands
3. Look at a distant object through the tube (both eyes open)
4. Bring the tube slowly toward your face
5. The tube will naturally go to your dominant eye

The Four Combinations

1. Right-Handed, Right Eye Dominant (Same-Side)

Alignment: Natural. Your throwing arm and dominant eye are on the same side.

Stance: Standard stance (right foot forward, left foot back, body angled left)

Head position: Head naturally aligns so right eye has clear sightline to target

Advantages:

• Easiest alignment (eye and arm on same side)
• Most common combination (~70% of right-handed throwers)
• Head position feels natural

Potential issues: Minimal. This is the "default" setup most coaching assumes.

2. Right-Handed, Left Eye Dominant (Cross-Dominant)

Alignment: Tricky. Your throwing arm and dominant eye are on opposite sides.

What this means: Your left eye wants to be the reference point, but your right arm is throwing.

The problem: If you align your body so your right arm is comfortable, your left eye might be blocked by your nose/face. If you align so your left eye can see clearly, your right arm might be in an awkward position.

Solutions:

Option A: Head tilt/turn

• Keep standard right-handed stance
• Tilt or turn your head left so your left eye has a clear sightline
• This is what most cross-dominant players do naturally

Option B: More frontal stance

• Stand more square to the board (less side-on)
• Allows left eye to see target without head tilt
• Might feel less stable

Option C: Close or squint non-dominant eye

• Some players close or partially close their right eye
• Forces brain to use left eye (which was already dominant)
• Can reduce visual input (not recommended for beginners)

Famous example: Phil Taylor is right-handed with left eye dominance. He tilts his head significantly to get his left eye on target.

3. Left-Handed, Left Eye Dominant (Same-Side)

Alignment: Natural (mirror of #1)

Stance: Left foot forward, right foot back, body angled right

Head position: Natural alignment

Same advantages as right/right combination, just mirrored.

4. Left-Handed, Right Eye Dominant (Cross-Dominant)

Alignment: Tricky (mirror of #2)

Same solutions: Head tilt/turn right, more frontal stance, or close non-dominant eye

Does Eye Dominance Actually Matter?

Yes, but only for alignment - not for which hand you throw with.

What Eye Dominance DOES Affect:

1. Head position

Your dominant eye needs a clear sightline to the target. If you're cross-dominant, you'll need to adjust your head position (tilt, turn, or lean) to give that eye a clear view.

2. Stance width

Cross-dominant players often benefit from a slightly more frontal stance (less side-on) to reduce the visual obstruction from their own face.

3. Which eye to focus with

If you're doing the "shift focus" strategy (see our eye focus article), you'll naturally use your dominant eye during the target acquisition phase.

What Eye Dominance DOESN'T Affect:

1. Which hand you throw with

Throw with your dominant hand (the one you write with). Eye dominance doesn't change this.

2. Your ability to hit the target

Cross-dominant players can be just as accurate as same-side dominant players. It just requires a bit more attention to head/stance positioning.

3. Whether you should close one eye

Some players (both cross-dominant and same-side) throw with one eye closed or squinted. This is a personal preference, not a requirement based on eye dominance.

Testing Your Current Setup

If you're cross-dominant (right-handed, left eye dominant or vice versa), test this:

Test 1: Which Eye Are You Actually Using?

Steps:

1. Set up in your normal throwing position (at the pause)
2. Close your right eye - can you still see the target clearly?
3. Open right eye, close left eye - can you still see the target clearly?

Results:

• If closing your dominant eye makes the target hard to see → You're already aligned correctly
• If closing your non-dominant eye makes the target disappear → Your body has already compensated (good)
• If you can see clearly with either eye closed → You might not be using your dominant eye effectively

Test 2: Head Tilt Check

Steps:

1. Set up in your normal position
2. Have someone take a photo from the side
3. Check if your head is tilted or turned

What to look for:

• Cross-dominant players usually tilt head toward dominant eye
• Same-side dominant players usually have straight or minimal tilt
• Neither is wrong - just confirms your body has naturally compensated

Should You Adjust Your Stance For Eye Dominance?

Only if you're having alignment problems.

Signs You Might Need To Adjust:

1. You can't see the target clearly at setup

   • Your face/nose is blocking your dominant eye
   • Fix: Head tilt or more frontal stance

2. Your grouping is consistently off to one side

   • You might be aiming with your non-dominant eye
   • Fix: Adjust head position to favor dominant eye

3. You feel like you're "reaching" or "stretching" to see the target

   • Your body position doesn't match your visual needs
   • Fix: Adjust stance to bring dominant eye into natural alignment

If You Don't Have These Problems:

Don't change anything. Your body has already figured out how to compensate.

Many cross-dominant players naturally develop a head tilt or stance adjustment without consciously thinking about it. If your grouping is consistent and you can see the target clearly, you're already doing it right.

The Cross-Dominant Solution Guide

If you're right-handed with left eye dominance (or left-handed with right eye dominance), here's how to optimize your setup:

Solution 1: Head Tilt (Most Common)

What to do:

• Maintain your normal stance
• Tilt your head toward your dominant eye
• Should feel like you're "looking around" your nose

Pros:

• Keeps your body position stable
• Easy to implement
• Most cross-dominant players do this naturally

Cons:

• Might feel awkward at first
• Could create neck tension if overdone

How much tilt: Just enough that your dominant eye has a clear, straight sightline to the target. Usually 10-20 degrees.

Solution 2: Head Turn

What to do:

• Turn your head (not just tilt) so your face is more toward the board
• Your dominant eye should be more centered over your throwing arm

Pros:

• Can feel more natural than tilting
• Reduces visual obstruction

Cons:

• Can affect shoulder position
• Might rotate your body more than intended

Solution 3: More Frontal Stance

What to do:

• Stand more square to the board (feet less staggered)
• Reduce side-on angle by 10-20 degrees
• Allows both eyes to see target without head adjustment

Pros:

• No head tilt needed
• Both eyes have clear view
• Can feel more stable for some players

Cons:

• Less side-on means less hip/shoulder rotation available
• Might reduce power (not really an issue in darts)
• Can make it harder to stay behind the throw line

Solution 4: Close Non-Dominant Eye

What to do:

• Partially close or squint your non-dominant eye
• Forces your brain to rely entirely on dominant eye

Pros:

• Eliminates visual conflict
• Clear single-eye reference

Cons:

• Reduces depth perception
• Can create eye strain
• Feels unnatural for many players

Recommendation: Only use this if other solutions don't work.

What About Both Eyes vs One Eye?

Separate question from eye dominance.

Some players throw with both eyes open, some close one eye. This is independent of which eye is dominant.

Both Eyes Open (Recommended For Most)

Pros:

• Better depth perception
• Natural (how you see the world normally)
• Wider field of view

Cons:

• Have to manage which eye you're "aiming" with
• Can create visual conflict if not aligned properly

Best for: Players who've aligned their setup with their dominant eye

One Eye Closed

Pros:

• Eliminates visual conflict
• Forces use of one eye (ideally dominant)
• Easier to verify alignment

Cons:

• Reduced depth perception
• Eye strain over long sessions
• Unnatural feeling

Best for: Players who can't get their dominant eye aligned any other way, or players who prefer the simplicity

Most pros throw with both eyes open. But a few (like Eric Bristow) famously threw with one eye closed.

Testing Protocol: Find Your Best Setup

If you're cross-dominant and want to optimize:

Week 1: Baseline With Both Eyes

Throw 100 darts at treble 20 over the week with your current setup.

Track:

• Grouping consistency
• How natural it feels
• Whether you can clearly see the target at setup
• Any neck/eye strain

Week 2: Head Tilt Test

Throw 100 darts with deliberate head tilt toward dominant eye.

Adjust: Start with 10-degree tilt, increase to 15-20 if needed

Track same metrics as week 1

Week 3: More Frontal Stance Test

Throw 100 darts with feet less staggered (more square to board).

Adjust: Start with 10 degrees more frontal, adjust as needed

Track same metrics

Week 4: Return To Best Setup

Pick whichever week felt most natural AND produced best grouping.

Drill that setup for 200 throws to lock it in.

Common Questions

"I'm cross-dominant but I've never had issues. Should I change anything?"

No. If your grouping is consistent and you can see the target clearly, your body has already figured it out. Many cross-dominant players naturally develop compensating head/stance adjustments without thinking about it.

"Can I train my non-dominant eye to become dominant?"

Technically yes, but not recommended for darts.

Your brain has been using your dominant eye for spatial reference your entire life. Trying to switch at this point will create more inconsistency than it solves.

Better solution: Adjust your setup to work with your dominant eye.

"Should I throw with my other hand if I'm cross-dominant?"

Absolutely not.

Hand dominance (motor control) and eye dominance (visual processing) are separate. You have much better fine motor control with your dominant hand. A head tilt is a much smaller adjustment than learning to throw with your non-dominant hand.

"What if I don't have a dominant eye?"

Rare, but possible (about 1% of people have no strong eye dominance).

Test: If the triangle test brings your hands to the center of your face (between eyes) rather than to one eye, you might not have strong eye dominance.

For darts: This is actually an advantage. You can align your setup however feels most comfortable without worrying about favoring one eye.

"Does eye dominance affect doubles vs scoring?"

No.

Whether you're aiming at treble 20 or double 16, your dominant eye is still your dominant eye. The same head/stance adjustments apply to all targets.

Real Example: Phil Taylor (Cross-Dominant)

Setup:

• Right-handed thrower
• Left eye dominant
• Significant head tilt to the left

How he compensated:

• Tilted head about 15-20 degrees left
• This brought his left eye directly over his right arm
• Maintained stable body position while giving dominant eye clear sightline

Result: Widely considered the greatest player ever. Cross-dominance didn't hold him back - he just adjusted his setup to work with it.

The Bottom Line

Eye dominance matters for alignment, not for which hand you throw with.

Same-side dominant (right hand, right eye or left hand, left eye):

• Natural alignment
• Minimal adjustment needed
• Head position is neutral

Cross-dominant (right hand, left eye or left hand, right eye):

• Requires compensation
• Solutions: Head tilt, head turn, more frontal stance, or close non-dominant eye
• Most common: Head tilt toward dominant eye

How to check your eye dominance:

1. Triangle test (form triangle with hands, look at distant object, bring hands to face)
2. Pointing test (point at object, close each eye, see which keeps finger aligned)
3. Paper tube test (look through tube, it naturally goes to dominant eye)

If you're cross-dominant:

1. Check if you're already compensating (you probably are)
2. If you have alignment issues, test head tilt first
3. If that doesn't work, try more frontal stance
4. Stick with whatever produces best grouping AND feels natural

Most important: Consistency matters more than which eye you use. Pick a setup that gives your dominant eye a clear view, then drill that setup until it's automatic.

Don't overthink it. If you can see the target clearly and your grouping is consistent, you've already figured it out.

---

Related Guides

Once you've optimized for eye dominance, learn where to focus:

• Where To Focus Your Eyes: Target Lock vs Soft Focus - Hard focus, soft focus, or shift focus strategies

Understanding how aiming actually works:

• Aim Before You Setup: The Pool Player's Secret - Aiming happens during the raise, not at setup

If you need to adjust your setup position:

• Your Setup Position Matters More Than You Think - Photo 1 vs Photo 2 and why pause point determines consistency