Muzzyman , I am not the best person to explain pre-load .....but the roller guard system causes a more than normal amount ! Most people shooting the newer Mathews aren't checking the poundage . I think the HP cam is very smooth.........and while not as smooth as the Freedom cams ......it's not far off IMO !! But since most of the new Mathews are pulling way over the advertised poundage .....it's hard to tell. My LX will max out at 76# and all others I have seen are hitting 72+ lbs. The Outbacks are the same way !! Drop them to a comfortable range and they're pretty darn smooth......with just a little more hump than the Freedom cam .....to me !! But unknowingly pulling a 75# Outback and then picking up a 70# Liberty would be a night and day difference !!