In this work a study of impact in Down-the-Hole (DTH) rock drilling is carried out. We present an alternative to a method previously introduced by Lundberg and his co-workers. Our model is formulated in terms of the impulse-momentum principle while Lundberg's method is based in solving the one-dimensional wave equation. In the case of DTH drilling, the study of the subject becomes easier because the handling of many bodies interacting dynamically is simplified, and different boundary conditions, such as constant body forces, distributed forces and initial strains, can be directly included. The rock-bit interaction is modeled using both a non-linear spring and a variable gap using experimental parameter data obtained by other researchers and by a normalized quasi-static penetration test described in this work. The simulation results are in good agreement with results in previous publications as well as with experimental validation measurements carried out by the authors. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.