A method of performing an injection molding cycle in an injection molding apparatus comprising a manifold that receives an injection fluid, the manifold distributing injection fluid to a fluid delivery channel that delivers the injection fluid under an injection pressure to a gate of a mold cavity and a valve pin having an axis and a tip end, the valve pin being slidably mounted for movement along the axis within the fluid delivery channel, the method comprises, drivably interconnecting the valve pin to an electric motor driven by a source of electrical power or energy in an arrangement wherein the electric motor drives the valve pin along the axis and drives the tip end of the valve pin between a first position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a second position (COP, COP2, COP3) upstream of the first position wherein the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of the injection fluid along at least a portion (RP, RP2, RP3) of the length of the drive path extending between the first position and the second position, and a third maximum upstream position where the injection fluid material flows freely without restriction from the tip end of the pin through the first gate, the electric motor being electrically operable to drive the valve pin at one or more intermediate rates of upstream and downstream travel extending between zero and a maximum rate of upstream travel and a maximum rate of downstream travel, characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: selecting a length of travel between the first position and the second position, beginning an injection cycle with the tip end of the valve pin in the first position, controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more intermediate rates of upstream travel greater than zero and less than the maximum rate of upstream travel to drive the tip end of the valve pin upstream from the first position to the second position, along at least a portion (RP, RP2) of the length of a drive path extending between the first position and the second position where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of the injection fluid and further upstream to the third maximum upstream position. selecting a length of travel between the third maximum upstream position and a predetermined third position (COP, COP2, COP3) that is downstream of the maximum upstream position and upstream of the first position, controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more high rates of downstream travel that are equal to or less than the maximum rate of downstream travel when the valve pin is disposed at the third maximum upstream position during the course of an injection cycle, sensing the position of the valve pin to determine when the tip end of the valve pin has reached the preselected third position (COP, COP2, COP3) during the course of downstream travel, controllably operating the motor to drive the valve pin at one or more intermediate rates of downstream travel that are less than the one or more high rates of downstream travel when the tip end of the valve pin has been determined in the step of sensing to have reached the third position (COP, COP2, COP3) to drive the tip end of the valve pin continuously downstream from the third position (COP, COP2, COP3) through at least a portion (RP, RP2) of the length of the drive path extending between the first position and the second position where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of the injection fluid to the first position. selecting a length of travel between the first position and the second position, beginning an injection cycle with the tip end of the valve pin in the first position, controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more intermediate rates of upstream travel greater than zero and less than the maximum rate of upstream travel to drive the tip end of the valve pin upstream from the first position to the second position, along at least a portion (RP, RP2) of the length of a drive path extending between the first position and the second position where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of the injection fluid and further upstream to the third maximum upstream position. selecting a length of travel between the third maximum upstream position and a predetermined third position (COP, COP2, COP3) that is downstream of the maximum upstream position and upstream of the first position, controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more high rates of downstream travel that are equal to or less than the maximum rate of downstream travel when the valve pin is disposed at the third maximum upstream position during the course of an injection cycle, sensing the position of the valve pin to determine when the tip end of the valve pin has reached the preselected third position (COP, COP2, COP3) during the course of downstream travel, controllably operating the motor to drive the valve pin at one or more intermediate rates of downstream travel that are less than the one or more high rates of downstream travel when the tip end of the valve pin has been determined in the step of sensing to have reached the third position (COP, COP2, COP3) to drive the tip end of the valve pin continuously downstream from the third position (COP, COP2, COP3) through at least a portion (RP, RP2) of the length of the drive path extending between the first position and the second position where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of the injection fluid to the first position.