TEmbry, Here are a couple of tips. First with all reels the spool has to be full. Second pull out all the line. Attach the end to something strong. I use my bench Vice. Walk off all the line to the very end. Start winding it in as tite as you can. This will keep the line from pulling down inside the line under it. But it sounds to me like you do not have enough line on the spool. If you look at the spool and the little hole in the cap. That is a lot of resistance of heavy line to go up over the spool take a 90 degree turn to get out the hole in the cap. I have a thumper reel and really like it, but it too has to be full all the time. Also you can never shoot a reel with out pushing the button. As when you go to draw it will pull the arrow off the string EVERYTIME. Just ask my son-in-law he forgets to push the button about half the time. Hope this helps.