A microprocessor controlled falling-pendulum instrument to determine the ballistic tearing strength of textiles, plastics, paper or board. Cutting templates, cutting knife and board supplied for preparing samples.Tearing strength in selectable units M,N,CN,N,G,KG,OZ,LB is displayed on an integral 16 character LCD at the end of each test.The display also shows the number of samples (plies) and the pendulum being used. Start and stop safety solenoids hold the pendulum at the beginning and end of each test. Includes RS232 output and analysis software.