Abstract: A yarn traversing drum for a textile winder having helical yarn traversing guide grooves forming a central intersection at the longitudinal centerline of the drum. One of the grooves has a smaller angle of inclination, between 10.degree. and 15.degree. and preferably approximately 14.degree. , than the angle of inclination, between 16.degree. and 20.degree. and preferably approximately 17.degree., of the other groove. The groove having the smaller angle of inclination is shallower and is formed with a wide yarn-capturing pocket adjacent the central intersection in the direction of yarn guiding. The groove having the greater angle of inclination at the central intersection has a beveled edge intersecting the yarn-capturing pocket of the other groove. The difference in angles of inclination results in the yarn reversing ends of the grooves adjacent opposite ends of the drum being offset circumferentially approximately 90.degree..