rubberbanding

Rubberbanding is a glitch or lag effect in video games where a character or object snaps back to a previous position, as if pulled by an invisible rubber band: I was ahead in the race but rubberbanding teleported me back twenty feet.

The term also describes game mechanics that artificially keep competition close—slowing leaders or boosting trailing players: Mario Kart's rubberbanding ensures last place gets the best power-ups.

Outside gaming, rubberbanding can describe any frustrating reversal of progress.