Abstract: The rest comprises a housing accommodating a device for centering a drill rod connected with a rotating mechanism actuated by a hydraulic drive. The characteristic feature of the rest is that the drill rod centering device has at least three link gears with bearing rollers. The rollers are uniformly circumferentially spaced within the housing and each is mounted on a vertical spindle for radial displacement by the drive by means of the rotating mechanism and the link gears. The rollers have their external side surfaces permanently urged against the drill rod to define the centering diameter. The centering device is also provided with hydraulic valves underlying the rollers.