The dynamics of a rotating, cylindrical liquid shell (liner) adiabatically compressing a trapped medium (the payload) is investigated analytically and numerically. The state variables at minimum radius (turnaround) are computed as functions ofpf, the peak payload pressure andu∞, the velocity the liner would attain if allowed to expand without restraint. For each choice ofpfandu∞, the rotational speed is chosen to just stabilize the Rayleigh–Taylor modes at the liner‐payload interface. The acceleration of the inner surface is largest immediately prior to turnaround, so that the initial rotational speed required for stabilization is close to that for an equivalent incompressible liner. Near turnaround the inner portion of the liner becomes significantly compressed, making the efficiency with which liner kinetic energy is transfered to the payload considerably less than that for an incompressible liner. The liner compression provided at turnaround alters the implosion dynamics and creates a pressure pulse propagating outward, analogous to a ’’water hammer’’. An additional result of compression is a slower rebound speed after turnaround, compared with the implosion speed.