You have target panic. Nothing to be ashamed of as I bet almost every single one of us has had a touch of it at one point or another. Some worse than others. If you shoot long enough, you'll eventually come down with a case of it.

As other said, the blind bale shooting will really help. As long as you stick to it.

I had an issue a couple years ago where I could not, for the life of me, bring my pin down into the center of the target once I settled into my anchor. Now, I shot well since I just ignored it and concentrated on what I wanted to hit and not the pin, but it bothered me enough that I did a lot of blind bale shooting where I would draw, force the pin to the center of the target, relax there for about 20 seconds, then let down. I'd do this 6 times before I would shoot one arrow. Then I'd do it again until all 3 arrows were gone.

It worked well the problem is behind me now. However, I still perform this exercise regularly, just to keep my demons at bay.

Using a pure back tension release is a definite way to work on target panic. However, if you're a wrist strap shooter only and have no intention of getting into target shooting, it just may compound the problem. It did me. I went to a BT release to help with my above problem and it really made this worse.

Trigger releases have been one of the biggest culprits of target panic and flinching issues than anything us bow shooters can put our hands on. They are an awful piece of equipment in the hands of a beginner who has no idea what a properly executed shot should feel like. I've never had target panic, and I still won't go near them. Just doesn't feel natural to me, I'm much more comfortable with a hand held bt release or thumb trigger for hunting.

This isn't your fault, you just need to be re-programmed, and get rid of the bad habits.

You are shooting your bow like a shotgun. Your aiming, and when the pin hits the dot, you're hammering the trigger. It don't work that way. What you have to focus on is the target. You are going to aim the bow, but not force it to the target. Relax your grip, tighten your shoulder blades, and let the pin hover. Keep your eyes on the dot, and squeeeeeeze the trigger. Step up to 5 yards, blank bale, and do that about 10,000 times . Try it with your eyes closed too. And by all means, try a new release. When i threw away the wrist strap trigger, and picked up a thumb trigger release, I improved my shot so much more. I've been shooting a BT release since 1995, and there is nothing like it for shooting a bow. Don't let anybody tell you that you can't learn to shoot one or that they are worthless. The off season is the best time, but you have to dedicate yourself to it, like all year, or it's a waste of time. Ifyou can get in with a pro shop, and hang out with thedot shooters that shoot well, and know how to use a BT release, it will make the transition easier.Shoot me a pm if you want chat about them more.

Whenever I start to get TP or have gotten it before, I always go back to the middle finger. It works and onceI ammentally ready, I go back to the index finger.

Theres tons of remedies for TP, you just need to find out what works best for you, and stick with it. Its probably going to be the thing that annoys you most to do that makes you better For me, its drawing and not shooting, but for you it might be something else. Just be persistant and you will get better. Thats why archery is considered a discipline right?
Derek

As to what SC said : sound exactly what I'm going through - and yes I get the creep sometimes (better than the clap I guess[:@]). BGFisher -- yes only the tip of my finger is on the trigger. I am going to shorten my release to see if that helps at all. One thing I have done that I find helps with just aiming at a spot and not thinking about anyone else is a suprise release by second party. My buddy will often pull the trigger for me while i aim. I actually do shoot some with my eyes closed. Thanks for all the suggestions and I will definately give them a try. Keep the suggestions coming.

having someone pull the trigger is the most suprised you can be. you have no control over it. That will help with the tendancy to creep or want to shoot, but you still have to learn how to pull through the shot, or squeeze instead of punch.
Derek

I don't know if it will help but reading a copy of Core Archery by Larry Wise would be another recommendation.