A shuttle race is the part of the beater in front of the reed that serves to support the shuttle as it glides through the shed. It prevents the shuttle from diving between warp ends and falling through. Ashford's table looms now come with a shuttle race on the beater but Ashford has made the race available to be retrofitted on all older models of the folding table loom that were made with the curved beater support arms. The race mounts on the beater arms and the elastic cords that hold it allow it to flex as you beat. The kit includes the race, replacement arms, bungy cords, and the wrenches needed to mount it. You can even install it on a loom that is warped!

Here's how the shuttle race works: