A method for determining surface tension is proposed in which vertical pull measurements are made by weighing the liquid phase, while a ring, plate, or rod is allowed to contact the surface of the solution and then pulled slowly upward. This contrasts with conventional vertical pull methods in which the ring, plate, or rod is suspended from a microbalance mounted above the solution. The utility and simplicity of the alternative approach are discussed, and procedures are given for using a top-loading analytical balance to determine the maximum vertical force exerted on either a rod or a plate.