The potentialities of the infrared photoacoustic method and the ATR Golden Gale method for the measurements of oriented bulk polymer systems are compared. Both methods are suitable for the estimation of orientation, if low and medium intensity bands are used. The ATR Golden Gate method is faster, while the photoacoustic method gives more straightforward results and eliminates any possible effect on the sample. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.