Abstract: A UDD bucket for a UDD mining operation provided with multiple hoist connection points that alternative couple to the front and/or rear hoist lines. The UDD mining machine includes a control system that directs the movement of the bucket within a prescribed carry envelope to limit unequal wearing of the hoist lines or minimize the magnitude of rope loads. In one construction, the control system directs the movement of the bucket with a range of motion where the loads on the hoist lines are kept within a prescribed variance of each other during the carry phase or most of the carry phase of a digging cycle. The bucket will be moved by the mining machine with the inventive control system so that, in the carry phase, the loads applied to the front hoist line are within, for example, 5%, 10% or 15% of the loads applied to the rear hoist lines.