The Best Non-Toxic Golf Balls & Equipment of 2026
We scored 15 golf balls & equipment for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is Nike Golf Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls at 85/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
53% of the 15 golf balls & equipment we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free golf balls & equipment we have scored
- 1
Nike Golf
Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber/elastomer golf ball core and cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Lower concern. Golf balls pose minimal PFAS exposure risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 2
Nike Golf
Ball Mix - 1 Dozen Good
Rubber, synthetic polymer core; urethane/elastomer cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding during use
Limited concern
Golf balls present minimal PFAS exposure risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 3
Nike Golf
Nike PD Soft
Surlyn ionomer cover, soft polymer core
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding during use or wear
Limited concern
Golf ball with standard polymers, lower concern than coated apparel.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 4
Nike Golf
Nike Golf Ball
Synthetic rubber/elastomer core, urethane/polyurethane cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding during use or degradation
Limited concern
Lower concern. Golf balls rarely use PFAS; no evidence of intentional PFAS use.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 5
Maxfli
StraightFli Graffiti Golf Balls
Rubber/elastomer core, synthetic polymer cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade85ExcellentExcellentGolf balls pose minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 6
Maxfli
Tour S Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber core with surlyn or urethane cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade77Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding from cover wear
Limited concern
⚠️70Residual mold or bacterial growth in storage
Limited concern
Lower concern. Standard golf ball materials pose minimal PFAS risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
- 7
Maxfli
Tour X Max Align Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber/polymer core, ionomer cover
PFAS Grade85ExcellentOverall Grade81Excellent🫧70Microplastic shedding from cover wear
Limited concern
Inherent golf ball materials lower concern; brand silent on PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Every golf balls & equipment that passes, side by side
Sorted by score. Higher is safer.
| # | Golf Balls & Equipment | Score | Rating | Made of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nike Golf Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls | 85 | Excellent | Synthetic rubber/elastomer golf ball core and cover |
| 2 | Nike Golf Nike Golf Ball Mix - 1 Dozen Good | 85 | Excellent | Rubber, synthetic polymer core; urethane/elastomer cover |
| 3 | Nike Golf Nike PD Soft | 85 | Excellent | Surlyn ionomer cover, soft polymer core |
| 4 | Nike Golf Nike Golf Ball | 85 | Excellent | Synthetic rubber/elastomer core, urethane/polyurethane cover |
| 5 | Maxfli Maxfli StraightFli Graffiti Golf Balls | 85 | Excellent | Rubber/elastomer core, synthetic polymer cover |
| 6 | Maxfli Maxfli Tour S Golf Balls | 85 | Excellent | Synthetic rubber core with surlyn or urethane cover |
| 7 | Maxfli Maxfli Tour X Max Align Golf Balls | 85 | Excellent | Synthetic rubber/polymer core, ionomer cover |
The golf balls & equipment we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Nike Golf
Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball
Recycled rubber/synthetic polymer with coating
PFAS
High concern
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Limited concern
Skip; golf ball coatings often use water-repellent coating treatments containing PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike Golf
Nike NDX Turbo Distance Golf Balls
Surlyn/synthetic polymer core with dimple coating
PFAS
High concern
Microparticle shedding from cover degradation
Moderate concern
Indirect ingestion by children or wildlife
Limited concern
Golf ball waterproof coatings often contain PFAS; Nike discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike Golf
9-pack Golf Balls; Chromax Metallic, Nike Juice Plus 312, & Nitro
Synthetic polymer cover, waterproof coating unspecified
PFAS
High concern
Polymer coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Dyes and pigments in metallic finishes
Limited concern
Golf balls likely treated with water-resistant coatings; brand discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on golf balls & equipment
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The golf balls & equipment brands that will not say
2 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Maxfli, Nike Golf.
Common questions about PFAS-free golf balls & equipment
Is golf balls & equipment PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 golf balls & equipment we have scored, 53% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 7 that pass. The highest scoring is Nike Golf Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls at 85 out of 100. The lowest is Nike Golf Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball at 40.
What is the safest golf balls & equipment you have scored?
Nike Golf Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is synthetic rubber/elastomer golf ball core and cover. The runner up is Nike Golf Nike Golf Ball Mix - 1 Dozen Good at 85.
Which golf balls & equipment should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Nike Golf Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball at 40, Nike Golf Nike NDX Turbo Distance Golf Balls at 40, Nike Golf 9-pack Golf Balls; Chromax Metallic, Nike Juice Plus 312, & Nitro at 40. The problem with the first is that skip; golf ball coatings often use DWR treatments containing PFAS.
Which golf balls & equipment brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
2 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Maxfli, Nike Golf. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test golf balls & equipment?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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Does a particular brand of golf balls & equipment have PFAS?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 golf balls & equipment.