This Standard describes a method known as the ballistic pendulum (Elmendorf) method for the determination of tear force of textile fabrics. The method describes the measurement of the tear force required to propagate a single-rip tear of defined length from a cut in a fabric when a sudden force is applied. The test is mainly applicable to woven textile fabrics. It may be applicable to fabrics produced by other techniques, e.g. to nonwovens (with the same under-mentioned restrictions as for the woven fabrics). In general the test is not applicable to knitted fabrics and woven elastic fabrics.