A novel repetitive contact technique, micro-impact testing, has been developed forcoating evaluation. Impact test results have proved a more consistent measure of coating per-formance under impact/fatigue conditions than traditional tribological methods such as scratch orpin-on-disk testing. The operating principles of the technique are described with some illustrativeresults on hard and soft coatings. The technique can provide information on impact wear resis-tance, susceptibility to brittle fracture, and strength of interfacial adhesion to substrate. A novel repetitive contact technique, micro-impact testing technique, has been developed for more consistent measure of coating per-formance under impact / fatigue conditions than traditional tribological methods such as scratch or pin-on-disk testing. The operating principles of the technique are described with some illustrative results on hard and soft coatings. The technique can provide information on impact wear resistance-susceptibility to brittle fracture, and strength of interfacial adhesion to substrate.