bowtech1, sounds like you are on the right track if you know you have a problem. if you are shooting a scat release, all you need to do is relax.

spend a little time on a blank bale without your sight attached to your bow, usually done at about 10 yards. this will reaquaint you with the feeling of a good shot, and will help you make it second nature.

it sounds as though you can aim without shooting the shot and your pin stays put until time to execute the shot, then a little anxioty creeps in there and you try to shoot the shot before the pin moves off of the spot. this is a pretty common form of target panic. realize that the target is not moving, it is you that is moving, accept that movement. let your pin float in the " area" you want your arrow to strike. a rigid pin is not good in my opinion. you should be relaxed enough to allow the pin to move a little. i will not shoot a shot where my pin is stationary, no matter how good it feels. it ususally means i have tensed up muscles that should be relaxed. your arrow will strike where you are looking (in 3d it applies if you have judged your yardage correctly) this means if you look at a spot on a target, and allow your pin to " float" on and around that area, you will hit that spot. naturally your pin needs to be reasonably close to the spot, but you get the idea.

the bottom line is just shooting your bow in the yard without working on your shot is a waste of time. break your entire shot sequence down and see if you have any flaws. make the routine repeatable, with as few steps as possible, and things will improve. you may want to consider a back tension type release, preferably one without a trigger. the trigger can be manipulated a little to easily.

i have had target panic, freezing up below the spot, and it makes shooting a bow a job instead of fun. i was stubborn and would not fix myself because i thought it would go away. target panic does not cure itself, it may subside, but if you are still shooting the same way, if will return.

a little hard work will go a long way, and shooting 20 good arrows and stopping is much better that 100 bad arrows. there is no point to shooting a bad shot. shoot the good ones, and let the bad ones down. if you let down on a target 5 times who cares. learn the shot, and the letdowns will slow down. i only let down a few times in erie, but some of that was flying critter panic.

good luck and be patient. it will be tough at first, but will get easier after a few times out.