Abstract: A method for controlling an injection cycle of an injection molding machine incudes advancing an injection screw axially forward toward an injection nozzle from a shot-size position to an injection position to inject melt from a shot chamber into a hot runner of a mold and from the hot runner to fill cavities of the mold. Then the injection screw is retracted away from the nozzle, from the injection position to a decompression position axially rearward of the shot-size position, to relieve melt pressure in the hot runner. Then the screw is advanced toward the nozzle from the decompression position to an intermediate position axially intermediate the injection position and the shot-size position. The method then includes rotating the screw to re-fill the shot chamber with melt and urge the screw to retract from the intermediate position to the shot-size position.