A balancing or measuring adapter, which includes a main body having a holder for the component to be balanced or measured and a clamping device assigned to the main body having a movable clamping element for clamping the component to the main body and releasing it therefrom. A braking device for generating a constant advance speed of the clamping element as it moves is arranged on the movable clamping element for precisely positioned clamping and jerk-free release of the component.