We present the first results of high-rate tension followed by compressive loading on a textured AZ31 alloy using a novel split-Hopkinson-pressure-bar (SHPB). The traditional-SHPB was modified in order to apply tension followed by compression along the rolling direction within few millisecond differences and a strain-rate of 103 s−1. The initial and post-deformed microstructure was examined by electron backscatter diffraction. The results reveal a reduced tension–compression asymmetry along with a shallower than the traditional sigmoidal-curve, indicating a significant influence of forward tensile loading on the subsequent compression behavior, manifested by the role of adiabatic-heating along with some unique deformation behavior.