diff --git a/tdkpin-rs/src/app.rs b/tdkpin-rs/src/app.rs
index ef88215..846fc58 100644
--- a/tdkpin-rs/src/app.rs
+++ b/tdkpin-rs/src/app.rs
@@ -438,8 +438,6 @@ impl App {
             }
         }
         if game.ball.in_launcher {
-            let frame = [0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, 0.65, 0.75, 0.85, 0.95]
-                .partition_point(|threshold| game.launcher_charge >= *threshold);
             draw_texture_ex(
                 &self.assets.plunger,
                 314.0,
@@ -447,7 +445,12 @@ impl App {
                 WHITE,
                 DrawTextureParams {
                     dest_size: Some(vec2(21.0, 18.0)),
-                    source: Some(Rect::new(frame as f32 * 21.0, 0.0, 20.0, 17.0)),
+                    source: Some(Rect::new(
+                        game.launcher_frame() as f32 * 21.0,
+                        0.0,
+                        20.0,
+                        17.0,
+                    )),
                     ..Default::default()
                 },
             );
diff --git a/tdkpin-rs/src/game.rs b/tdkpin-rs/src/game.rs
index 289a7ec..fd62fcf 100644
--- a/tdkpin-rs/src/game.rs
+++ b/tdkpin-rs/src/game.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,12 @@ const BALL_SEARCH_DELAY: f32 = 3.0;
 const BALL_SEARCH_SPEED: f32 = 24.0;
 const TILT_THRESHOLD: f32 = 1.15;
 const LAUNCHER_POSITION: Vec2 = Vec2::new(325.0, 413.0);
-const LAUNCHER_CHARGE_SECONDS: f32 = 0.55;
+const LAUNCHER_FRAME_THRESHOLDS: [f32; 10] =
+    [0.05, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55, 0.65, 0.75, 0.85, 0.95];
+// The original advances resource 901 through repeated Down-key events. A
+// fixed duration keeps that deliberate hold consistent across modern systems
+// whose keyboard-repeat delay and rate differ.
+const LAUNCHER_CHARGE_SECONDS: f32 = 1.0;
 const LAUNCH_SPEED_MIN: f32 = 330.0;
 const LAUNCH_SPEED_RANGE: f32 = 100.0;
 
@@ -159,6 +164,10 @@ impl Game {
         &self.players[self.current_player]
     }
 
+    pub fn launcher_frame(&self) -> usize {
+        LAUNCHER_FRAME_THRESHOLDS.partition_point(|threshold| self.launcher_charge >= *threshold)
+    }
+
     fn fire_launcher(&mut self) {
         let launch_speed = LAUNCH_SPEED_MIN + self.launcher_charge * LAUNCH_SPEED_RANGE;
         self.ball.in_launcher = false;
@@ -185,7 +194,12 @@ impl Game {
         if self.ball.in_launcher && !self.tilted {
             if controls.launch_down {
                 let charge_step = frame_time.min(0.05) / LAUNCHER_CHARGE_SECONDS;
-                self.launcher_charge = (self.launcher_charge + charge_step).min(1.0);
+                let next_charge = self.launcher_charge + charge_step;
+                self.launcher_charge = if next_charge >= 1.0 - f32::EPSILON * 4.0 {
+                    1.0
+                } else {
+                    next_charge
+                };
                 self.launcher_was_down = true;
             } else if self.launcher_was_down {
                 self.fire_launcher();
@@ -649,17 +663,38 @@ mod tests {
         let quick_speed = -quick.ball.velocity.y;
 
         let mut charged = Game::new(1);
-        launch_ball(&mut charged, 33);
+        launch_ball(&mut charged, 60);
         let charged_speed = -charged.ball.velocity.y;
 
         assert!(charged_speed > quick_speed + 80.0);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn maximum_launch_requires_a_deliberate_hold() {
+        let mut game = Game::new(1);
+        let held = Controls {
+            launch_down: true,
+            ..Controls::default()
+        };
+
+        for _ in 0..30 {
+            game.update(1.0 / 60.0, 3, held);
+        }
+        assert!((0.45..0.55).contains(&game.launcher_charge));
+        assert_eq!(game.launcher_frame(), 5);
+
+        for _ in 0..30 {
+            game.update(1.0 / 60.0, 3, held);
+        }
+        assert!((game.launcher_charge - 1.0).abs() <= f32::EPSILON);
+        assert_eq!(game.launcher_frame(), 10);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn charged_ball_clears_the_shooter_lane() {
         for detail in 1..=5 {
             let mut game = Game::new(1);
-            launch_ball(&mut game, 33);
+            launch_ball(&mut game, 60);
             let mut entered_table = false;
             let mut returned_to_launcher = false;
             let mut minimum_y = game.ball.position.y;