Thank you Greg.
All the tips make sense and sound like things I have heard/read in the past so are obviously sound tips.
I am just a little confused now, though, on the way I play long bunker shots.
I used to use the technique you mention when I was younger, but I used to take a club more due to the cut spin (I would aim slightly left). I can see how it should be a club less but will have to try this. Anyway, my confusion comes from having recent success at playing long bunker shots 'clean' (I got this tip from a low handicapper - although I thought it sounded a bit hit and miss at the time). With the ball slightly forward and my hands down the grip, I have been able to play good long bunker shots - although, obviously, there are times when I catch it a little fat. Last night, armed with this and your thought about a smooth early release, I hit the long bunker shot of my life (albeit a 9-iron) to about a foot at a difficult 'linksy' green. The four guys who had played us through and were right behind us were clapping to my great embarrassment (the embarrassment only lasted a few seconds!!). Anyway, I played for it and it worked and now I have a dillemma. Yours is professional advice and will be the more consistent option, but I seem to be decent at picking the ball clean...what should I do? Should I maybe use the picking the ball clean method when I have a good lie and have a chance to go for the pin (within a 100 yards or so) and your method for most other shots (e.g. not so great lies and shots from distance when you simply want to advance it as far down the fairway as possible)?
I suppose the question is, would you ever consider/recommend the shot that I describe?