The invention relates to a drive head comprising a housing (12) with two passages (24, 26), which face away from one another, for a rod assembly (10) and a rotary-driven sleeve (30). Said sleeve surrounds a section of the rod assembly (10) and can be driven by a rotating drive. The rod assembly (10) is connected to the sleeve (30) by a coupling (40). A hydrodynamic recoil brake (60, 70) is provided for controlled reduction of the torsion power accumulated in the rod assembly (10). Said recoil brake in the operating mode conveys a fluid stream through a throttle point (90). In order to detect whether torsion power is accumulated in the rod assembly (10) which may present a potential danger, a pressure sensing device (102, 124, 126) is connected to the throttle point (90) and produces a signal if the pressure of the fluid exceeds a predetermined threshold value.