Yep, there is a "proper" way to shoot an index-style release... I read an article not too long ago by Bernie Pellerite or whatever his name is in one of the many archery publications I receive at my house. It had some pics with it, too; I wish I could find it for you now.

Basically, you want to keep your release hand straight and in line with your wrist. The faulty way you've probably seen a lot of people implement is to "hunch" up their wrist, or cock it up. That's probably a release that needs to be lengthened. Anyway... You want your wrist to be able to lay naturally and in line with your forearm.

Then, you want the trigger to come up to the first joint of your finger... some even put it in the second. Bottom line is you don't want to be triggering it with the "pad" of your finger... You'll be punching it too easily then. Hopefully, if you can get it adjusted right, you'll be able to lay your finger over the trigger so that it comes to that joint and then trigger the release with back tension by squeezing your shoulder blades together.