A shock pendulum apparatus features a pendulum assembly with a hammer for impact, a frame and support structure for the apparatus, a specimen holder for the test item, a measuring scale (often with a counter-weighted needle) for recording the arc or energy absorbed, and a safety shield for user protection. Modern versions may also include features like a tapered rubber insert on the pendulum, a self-locking trigger, levelling screws, and an electromagnetic clutch for precise control.