I have come to realize that no matter how good your bow, at distances of as few as 20 yards, the pin will dance a little on small targets. That leads me to believe that no matter how much technical advancement we have from here on out, we are limited by our ability to hold the bow steady on target or it won' t matter. I am right handed, and wonder whether the best approach is to come from below, above, right or left when engaging the target before releasing the arrow. I come from below on targets, but find that in a treestand, I come from above. I guess the important thing is to lock on for a second or more before releasing, but wonder what your thoughts are on an approach that is most accurate.

It doesn' t matter which way you come from...but the important thing is that you do NOT try to lock on!!! Let that pin float...you CAN' T stop it...so quit fighting it!!! Remember, once the pin is OFF target, you are already sub-conciously starting to move it BACK to target... LET THIS HAPPEN!!!
Many archers try WAY too hard to hold the pin rock steady. this will NOT help, and can lead to target panic.
FOCUS on the spot you want to hit...and let the pin dance around while you focus on that area.
I have found this to work NEARLY like magic. There have been a few times I could have SWORE that when the shot went off, I was in the 4 ring...go get my arrows, and low and behold, it' s an X!!!
Be calm, be steady (but NOT rigid!!!) focus on the TARGET, and let the shot happen.

I usually come down from above the target because I have been known to " freeze up" just below where I want to aim.

Myself, From the bottom up
Mahly13, great advise.

Most of the " Pros" come down from the the top. The reason? It is easier to stop and hold the site where you want it on on the way down rather than " lift" the bow to the site picture. It is intricately tied to panic target in a subtle way. As has already been mentioned some will " freeze" in an attempt to get on target on the way up. You have to " push" the weight up and this only adds to the handicap. Letting the bow " float" down on the target is an easier route to take, you are not fighting with so many different variables in your muscles and head.

....If the above statements make sense to you, then you deserve the Einstein award for intelligence and intellectual capacity. When I read what I just said it didn' t communicate my reasoning very well. No time to change it, got things to do.

I also settle in from the top I just find it easier to come to a relaxed stance that way!
AL

I usually come up from the bottom and settle on the shoulder and whacko[]

bottoms up!

I come from the bottom. I use to freeze up below then I just sighted in my pin so I would hit dead on when aiming low. This year I changed that and I can hold it right over the target. I found if i don' t think about it and don' t give myself time to really think then I shoot really well. If I analyze everything and try to hold utltra steady then everything goes out the window and my groups start opening. I think the best thing anyone ever told me was at an archery store he said " your thinking about it too much... just shoot its not that complicated."

Bottom up, let it float and release. If you see the pin bouncing you are not concentrating on the spot you want to hit but rather the pin! I have found the best thing I can do is trust my insticts, yardage and pin placement(picking a spot not the pin or whole target), this has transitioned to better groups & feild results.