25-40 yard bunker shots

I know this has been discussed, you can either go with a 8-9 iron and splash it...or go with direct contact with a wedge and make sure you don't dig to get that spin and stop.

I tried the Iron option yesterday and was god dam awful...both attempts (under pressure) I hit the ball way behind just getting the ball out the bunker...I tried opening the face a bit...

What's the required ball position and body in relation to path you need to use the iron dump and run?

They seem to be splash short shots...i'm talking bunkers that are out of splash shot distance and 25-50 yards back.

... Hate that distance as well :~( I see two options: either classic splash and hard swing with a lower lofted wedge, e.g. Gap wedge or direct contact and partial swing / steady and balanced lower body for which you could use any club dependent on the distance... I tend to go for the first option and with that technique i manage to hit up to 30 / 35 yds. roughly

Most of the courses I play have bunkers greenside or farther back, around 70, 80 yards. The one time I happened to be in one at 40 yards, I hit a wide open sand wedge, swung pretty hard, and tried not to get into the sand too far behind the ball, so the ball went up really high and with a ton of spin (I had a lip and ditch to get over). I got lucky and holed it. I would do something like that again even without the need to go super high, but I'm really comfortable opening the face all the way (it's a fun shot to practice in and out of the sand, so I practice it a lot, haha). I hate trying to hit softer shots with lower lofted clubs out of the sand; brings a fat shot too much into play for me.

I have no problems with fairway bunkers unless they are like British Open pits, then who doesn't. Keep your head still and lower body still. Take a smooth swing. You'll need to know how hard to swing for certain distances. Much like the thread on 1/2 and 3/4 swings with wedges. From 70-80 yards, I'd take my 52* which I normally hit up to 100 yards. I take a little easier swing to control the distance. Normally half or 3/4 swings from shorter yardage. You'd be surprised how far a half swing goes. I keep my wrists quieter also. More akin to a punch shot. I play all the balls in my normal position just in front of center or center. For longer bunker shots I still keep my lower body quiet and take a couple of extra clubs. For a 150 yd shot, I'd hit a 5 or 6 iron. It's all about picking the ball. Whatever you have to do to pick the ball. We have fairly soft sand here which makes the shot a little tougher. Less margin of error.

Maybe i've posted the wrong yardage, the bunker in question is 72 yards to the middle, this is the example type of bunkering I mean. With a 10 yard incline.

http://www.ferndowngolfclub.co.uk/hole_18_-_old_course

Yeah, I'd basically do the same.  For the shots in the OP, I'd simply hit them like normal bunker shots with extra club..  For a 75 yard bunker shot, I would hit it like a fairway bunker shot, which is basically the same as a regular shot but with the ball a bit back in my stance to help make sure I get it first.  For 75 yards, It'd have to be about a 3/4 SW or so.

Yep, but it's a 52* gap wedge for me. Will fly 75-80 yards and spin hard if it's struck well.

Exactly the same for me.  25-40 yard bunker shot I'm hitting a green side splash shot with PW-8i.  Out to 70-80 yards and I'm treating it as a fairway bunker and hitting a full/near full 60˚.