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Shooting with glasses?

Discussion in 'Tech Talk' started by NEW61375, Mar 9, 2009.

  1. NEW61375

    NEW61375 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    My vision is crap but I have recently decided I need to start wearing my glasses(recently prescribed)regularily. I feel like I can see again I am just not used to the glasses. That translates to my shooting, I am having trouble seeing down range through my peep. It is an average peep so I can go bigger but beyond that it just all feels uncomfortable. Any recommendations for a peep or shooting with glasses in general?
     
  2. Fitz

    Fitz Legendary Woodsman

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    I think that it can depend on a couple different factors, and they can have some significant effects on your shot.

    Depending on your exact anchor point, the glasses can visually get in the way. You could have thicker frames that would block the inside vision of your shooting eye. For me, since I'm right handed, its my right eye looking across my face towards the target. If my frames were thicker, I'd have to turn my head more square to the target and this would change my anchor point.

    The same can happen if there your lenses are further apart from each other or if your glasses rest further out from your face. A gap can be seen from your shooting eye, between your glasses and your nose.

    Another reason that having your glasses sit further from you face can be bad, is that the lenses (depending on the severity of the prescription) cause an image shift. This is similar to what happens when bow fishing. The image on the other side of the surface of the water (or lens) looks to be positioned off from where it actually is. You can see this by finding a straight edge. hold your glasses at arms length and look at the break in the line as it travels through your lens. Now, slowly bring your glasses back towards your face and put them on. As they get closer, the "shift" gets smaller. So, my theory is, that the closer your lens is to your eye, the less of an effect this will have on your line of sight.

    My suggestion for best glasses performance would be:
    -small frame material (thin metal good, thick "geeky" frames bad)
    -lenses close to face (I widened my nose pads so the frame piece connecting the lenses nearly rests on the bridge of my nose)
    -good inside coverage (the lenses should sit close inside to the bridge of your nose, so you can look across your nose at your target, and be looking through the lens)
    -a tight fit (any shift in your glasses would be like a shift in your anchor point, make sure they are in the same place for every draw)

    Having said all this, I'm no eye Doc. But, I do still shoot with my glasses some. I typically shoot (and always hunt) wearing contacts though. Hunting in fact, is the sole reason I have contacts. I got sick of my glasses fogging up in the stand.

    I use a peep, and I've recently shot with both my glasses and contacts. For me, I find that I group about 1 1/2" to the left with my glasses. So, if I wanted to, I could just adjust my sight pins and I feel I would shoot just as well.

    The difference between having good and great vision in the field is huge for me. It's like regular vs. High Def TV. All the detail jumps out at you. Makes is easier to see a brownish-grey blob trying to sneak behind a bunch of individual brown twigs and brush, or to catch the slightest twitch of a white ear bedded in the grass. Just another tools for my proverbial hunting belt.
     
  3. stikbow26

    stikbow26 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I just started wearing my glass's last year while shooting my bow and I switched to a Fletcher 1/4 peep and it worked out awesome.. Walt
     
  4. brucelanthier

    brucelanthier Grizzled Veteran

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    I have needed glasses for the past 25 years (now bifocals LOL). I do not wear them hunting or shooting my bow. As far as shooting at the target, I don't need the fine detail, even at 60 yds. I have a morrell yellow jacket bag and can see the black dot inside the red dot on the yellow background even if it is a tad blurry.

    I would recommend not using them when shooting if it is possible.
     
  5. 2Pointer

    2Pointer Weekend Warrior

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    I have worn glasses pretty much my entire life. I thought it would be difficult to shoot a peep, but found out that this wasnt the case (for me atleast). I shoot a Super ball peep and dont have any issues as of yet. My frames have changed over the years from wire to plastic. Currently i am wearing plastic frames (geeky ones... LOL). Id have to see you shooting to give you a better idea. It shoulndnt be any different then shooting without. I wore contacts for a season or two and i didnt have to adjust anything. Sorry this doesnt help. If i were you I would have somone watch my setup and shooting techniques and see if i needed a change.
     
  6. NEW61375

    NEW61375 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I appreciate the input everyone, one of the main reasons I don't wear my glasses is comfort. I am just not used to them and then when I do wear them whenever I take them off I feel blind. I'm going to try a bigger peep and then go from there with adjustments to the actual frames/glases if I think it could help(maybe look into contacts). I have been shooting exactly how you describe Bruce with no real problems with accuaracy but I want the better vision for the actual hunting part.
     
  7. NEW61375

    NEW61375 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    Do you not like these for hunting though?
     
  8. Ben/PA

    Ben/PA Grizzled Veteran

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    Easy to get it fogged or water drops in, then you be screwed.:cry:
     
  9. 2Pointer

    2Pointer Weekend Warrior

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    the problem with fogging comes when you wear a face mask and the water spots do suck. I just be sure to bring something to clean them.. I have always worried about glare.
     
  10. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    I hunted with my Verifier in all season however, one MUST watch when the weather is fowl.

    NEW, what are you having trouble seeing?

    The Verifier lens is only good for helping you see the pins. If I read your thread right, you having trouble seeing down range?

    A verifier will not help you see down range, at least it does not for me. My issue is not seeing down range, my issue is seeing my pins. My pins elongate now and the verifier clears that up but it slightly blurrs the down range. Verifiers are NOT for downrange help, they are for close pin assistance.

    NEW, do I have it right that your having trouble seeing down range through your peep or are you having trouble seeing your pins?
     
  11. NEW61375

    NEW61375 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    You have it right Rob. I noticed last night that what seems to really be the problem is when I am at full draw my head is at an angle (slightly) and I seem to be looking past on the inside of my lens rather than through it. It's hard to describe but I don't see how I can look squarely through the lens and my peep sight with my head at an angle. Was just re-reading Fitzs post and this quote seems to fit what's going on:

    "-good inside coverage (the lenses should sit close inside to the bridge of your nose, so you can look across your nose at your target, and be looking through the lens)"

    My lenses aren't real big and they set off my nose pretty good so I may have to look into contacts to remedy this problem.
     
  12. DoePeeSteve

    DoePeeSteve Weekend Warrior

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    Think Fitz hits the head with the hammer.

    I had this same issue two weeks ago. New to glasses and first time shooting my bow. There were several other issues I had to work with as well (shoulder surgery, release broke, and other factors), but from what I could tell was this:

    Glasses close as possible to the eyes is a good thing. I don't know if my glasses got in the way, but I felt like I had to view my peep different. It didn't feel like my anchor point changed (eventhough it had to), but I felt like I need to back off the bow a little more. I brought my head back further from the string and all was well. Somehow I was crowding the peep and I couldn't see my pins or down field.

    Hopefully you get it all sorted out for this guy :deer:
     
  13. Scot

    Scot Weekend Warrior

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    Great Post Fitz! Very helpful!
     
  14. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    I know what you mean. The way I shoot, I would not be able to shoot with glasses either and I have to come to a decision. My right eye is failing me and I know it. My left is much better than my right and I feel contacts are in my near future. I know glasses won't do the job unless I change my form and relearn to shoot the way Jeff is shooting in that picture. I know that from coming to draw too many times with sun glasses on and having to let down or have someone remove my glasses.

    I'll let someone with experience on glasses take it from there and I wish you the best.

    I know my sudden vision issues is starting to cost me points on the range.
     
  15. NEW61375

    NEW61375 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    I guess just going from not shooting with them to shooting with them is an adjustment for me. I like my anchor to be solid, I like to focus strictly on the target and not fidget to find my anchor. That's how it is affecting the shot for me, I have to move and adjust to get my target picture right, that is no good. I have taken some things from this thread that I will definitely try ie. a bigger peep, possibly shortening my draw length(tweak my form) , adjust my glasses to sit closer to my eyes, contacts, More than likely it will take some combination of these things and some time.
     
  16. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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    I, like many put the tip of the nose on the string. Form pics You have your nose to the side of your string in that picture. If you were to turn your head to allow the tip of your nose to touch the string you may find that the nose bridge of your glass obstruct your peep. That's what happened to me with the sunglasses.

    If you bothered with looking at many of the "pros", the nock point is below the eye, yours in the pic is well back indicating the DL may be a touch long. But it works for ya.
     
  17. Dr Andy

    Dr Andy Weekend Warrior

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    I don't like shooting w/ my glasses on. The frames just get in the way. It's like you have to line up the front sight, the peep and the frame of your glasses. Just seems like they get inthe way.
     
  18. stikbow26

    stikbow26 Die Hard Bowhunter

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    GMMAT, you are correct with the nose thing!!! That is the whole reason I went to a peep was because with my glass's I had to turn my head more straight or I would see only my nose brace on my glass's, but with the peep I don't.. Walt
     
  19. bowhunter546

    bowhunter546 Weekend Warrior

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    Who makes the verifier peep sights??
     
  20. Rob / PA

    Rob / PA Grizzled Veteran

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