The Dominant Eye in Tennis: Role, Impact & Binocular Training Strategies

Key Points

• Occular dominance:

  • Ocular dominance is real but not fixed - it comes from cortical processing in the brain and can change with experience and training.
  • Dominance should only be considered if it significantly impacts posture or performance. Otherwise, always train binocularly (using both eyes together).
  • Many popular "dominant eye tests" (paper hole, thumb test) are misleading because they often identity the aiming eye, not the true dominant eye.
  • Physiological diplopia (seeing double before/behind the fixation point) also disrupts accuracy.
  • To correctly determine dominance: make a small triangle with your hands, center a distant point, and alternately close each eye. If the point shifts when one eye is closed, the opposite eye is dominant.
  • Never force eye retraining if dominance has no postural impact. Covering one eye for long periods can even be harmful.

• Warm-up drill for binocularity (5 minutes max):

  • Fix gaze on a central point.
  • Move outstretched fingers horizontally, vertically, and obliquely.
  • Keep eyes steady but alternate attention between right and left finger while always holding central fixation.
  • This prepares both eyes and the brain for match play, sharpening visual performance and concentration.
  • World-class athletes (including a current Top 10 player) use these short vision warm-ups daily to boost stability and focus before stepping on court.