Abstract: The invention describes a low tension relax process and corresponding apparatus, wherein a tension gate is incorporated into a relax zone in a yarn production process. The tension gate can be anything that produces a drag on the yarn threadline such as an air drag device, a liquid drag device, or a solid surface contact drag device, or a combination of these. A tension gate is a device which when used in a relax zone has an outlet yarn tension greater than the inlet yarn tension thus creating a tension differential. The tension gate provides a tension differential of at least 5 mg per denier. A relax zone is typical found in a spin-drawing process, a draw-twisting process, a draw-winding process, or a draw-bulking process. The invention describes a yarn making process with a tension gate in the relax zone wherein the tension gate creates a tension differential on said yarn of at least 5 milligrams per denier.