The impact hammer has a working piston (22) which can be displaced in a working cylinder (21) and is controlled by a control device in such a way that it exerts blows on an anvil surface (23) of an adaptor (24) which can be connected to the object to be driven. As the hammer housing is withdrawn, the working piston (22) exerts rearward-directed blows on a headpiece (52). This headpiece is connected to the adaptor (24) by way of a tie rod (50) which passes through the hammer piston (22). This ensures that the object comes out of the ground more easily. <IMAGE>
