Higher altitude bunker shots in soft sand.

Question
QUESTION: I'm OK at extracting shots from greenside bunkers.  Uphill lies are easy.  When I get to the flat part, my shots tend to barely clear the lip (the bunker has about a 5 ft lip) and they roll a bit.  My sand wedge is a 58 degree Vokey with 12 deg bounce

I'm doing all the right things (aiming the feet about 5ft left and a 45 degree open clubface, weak grip, swinging along the footpath, hitting 1-2" behind the ball) and quieting the lower body).

I just want to get my sand shots so they go high and drop on a dime.

Is there a such thing as a too open clubface?  Would 60 degrees be excessive at all? (afraid of shanking the ball).

ANSWER: Lou:

Yes there is so such a thing.  I have found you need to check where you enter the sand.  You say 1-2" behind the ball, but are you that good?  Most of my students hit somewhere between 5-8 inches behind it.  If your balls are coming out too flat, then your angle of attack into the sand is too flat (near the bottom of your swing).  Make sure to cock the club up quicker to set an angle between the shaft and your left arm.  Then swing the entire club to a finish, splashing sand.  I have found most people unleash the angle way to quick in an effort to fling the clubface under the ball.  Problem is there is not enough speed and the clubhead comes in too low for your ball to get lift.  Keep the face open a bit, set your angle early, then swing the club fast enough to a full finish, depending on length of shot.  Do not try to flip the clubhead under the ball.  And seriously check how far behind the ball you are striking the sand.  If you actually hit one to two inches behind the ball all the time, then you'd be a great bunker player, because that is consistency.  

Eddie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have been using about a 45 degree angle for the shorter shots and decreasing as I go further in the trap.  

I think I may have gotten the hang of it a couple days ago. At first it felt a bit weird not shifting the weight from the left foot to the right foot on the backswing like in a normal golf shot.   I was taking a steep backswing where my wrists were fully cocked at 9 oclock.  

Answer
Lou:

Don't get into too much here.  I would concentrate fully on making a full swing through the shot with your arms to the finish.  You need more forward push from the sand.  Throwing the clubhead under the ball by uncocking the hands and wrist angle too quick is disaster.  Practice and you'll get a better touch.  

Eddie