Abstract: A yarn winding apparatus with a rotatably driven barrel cam having a groove in its cylindrical surface and a slide member and traverse guide assembly engaging the groove constrained for reciprocating linear movement, as the cam rotates, is provided with a constant tension yarn laydown at the reversals by incorporating a resilient lever between the guide and the slide head capable of being flexed at the cam reversals within a predetermined critical range of from about 2.5.degree. to about 6.5.degree. with respect to a plane perpendicular to the linear movement of the guide assembly when the slide head moves in a horizontal path.