Spalding Review, Is Spalding Non-Toxic?
Across 12 graded products, Spalding averages Good (66/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 6 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Spalding have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from Spalding Good or better, best-graded first
Spalding
5x3 Set of Golf Balls 1980 Box
Rubber-covered synthetic core golf ball
Rubber degradation and particle shedding
After 40+ years, the rubber cover may crack or flake at edges or stress points; this…
Microbial contamination from storage
If stored in damp conditions, the rubber surface may accumulate mold or mildew; this is a…
Vintage golf balls pose minimal PFAS risk from use.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Spalding
Top Flite Xl High Trajectory Golf Balls Set Of 12 - In Box
Surlyn ionomer resin cover, solid rubber/synthetic core
Synthetic rubber core degradation
Aged or UV-exposed rubber may shed minor microparticles if the cover becomes compromised.…
Choking hazard (structural, not chemical)
Small children could choke on golf ball fragments if they gain access to damaged balls.…
Golf ball composition suggests lower PFAS concern, but brand silent.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Spalding
Aloha Classics Hawaii Series Golf Ball Set
Rubber/elastomer cover, synthetic polymer core
Microplastic shedding during use
Scuffing and impact wear on rubber covers can release small particles, particularly after…
Lower concern, no known PFAS-prone materials identified.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Spalding
Vintage Spalding & Titleist Golf Balls Assortment of 18
Gutta-percha/rubber core with synthetic cover (standard golf ball)
Cover material degradation over time
Vintage synthetic covers (Surlyn, balata) may crack, delaminate, or become brittle with…
Microplastic or particle shedding
Extended play wear on synthetic covers may generate microplastics, particularly if covers…
Vintage golf balls with rubber and synthetic cover present lower PFAS concern.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Spalding
Spalding Pack
nylon/polyester backpack fabric
VOC off-gassing from synthetic fabric manufacturing
Nylon and polyester production can leave trace volatile organic compounds (residual…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester-blend fabrics often undergo finish treatments to enhance water resistance or…
Microplastics
Nylon and polyester shed microfibers during use and washing. For a backpack, direct human…
Degradation of seams, zippers, and adhesives under UV and moisture
Mass-market backpacks, including Spalding models, commonly experience seam separation and…
Spalding backpacks likely lower PFAS risk, but no public disclosure available.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Spalding
Vintage Spalding Pro-Flite 12 Professional Golf Balls Set
Solid core rubber and synthetic polymer cover
Synthetic polymer cover degradation
Surlyn and similar covers yellow and become brittle with decades of UV and thermal…
Rubber core dust or particles if fractured
Aged rubber cores rarely crack under normal play, but if severed or heavily compressed…
Golf balls present minimal PFAS concern as standard sports equipment.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Spalding
Pure Speed Golf Balls
Synthetic polymer cover, elastomer core, unknown surface treatments
Synthetic polymer cover degradation
Surlyn and urethane covers degrade under UV exposure and temperature extremes…
Surface coating or paint chemical exposure
Ball markings and finish may use pigments or coating additives; however, contact is…
Insufficient public data on coating materials and PFAS use.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Spalding
SD Tour Golf Balls
Synthetic polymer cover, core composition unspecified
Synthetic polymer cover degradation and microplastic shedding
Prolonged scuffing or UV exposure may degrade ionomer surface, but ingestion risk is…
Golf balls rarely use PFAS, but coating composition unclear.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Spalding
Pure Spin Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber/polymer core with proprietary cover coating
Polymer cover degradation and microparticle shedding
Over time or under UV exposure, the proprietary cover coating may degrade and shed…
PFAS
Water-resistant polymer coatings on golf balls may contain PFAS to repel moisture and…
Golf ball PFAS risk unknown; limited public disclosure available.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Spalding
NEW Vintage Spalding Surlyn Cover Super-Flite 1 Dozen Golf Balls
Surlyn cover (ionomer resin) with unknown surface treatment
Leaching or off-gassing from ionomer resin and surface treatments
Surlyn is a stable plastic, but unknown surface treatments or UV stabilizers applied to…
Microplastic shedding from cover degradation
Ionomer covers degrade over time and rounds of play, shedding fine particles into grass…
PFAS
Surlyn can be formulated with or without fluorinated slip agents or water-repellent…
Golf balls carry unknown PFAS risk from cover coatings, brand silent.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Spalding
Golf Balls - Dozen
Synthetic rubber/polymer core with surlyn or urethane cover
PFAS
Golf balls typically use water-resistant finishes; Spalding does not disclose whether…
Microplastic shedding during use
Degraded golf balls shed polymer fragments into the environment over time and with wear.…
Standard golf balls likely use water-resistant coatings; PFAS risk unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Spalding
Golf balls Spalding (x36)
Synthetic rubber/polymer core with urethane or dimple coating
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from urethane cover
Urethane and thermoplastic covers can emit low-level VOCs during curing and storage…
Microplastic shedding from degraded coating
As the dimple coating ages or if damaged, small urethane particles can shed into soil or…
PFAS
Golf ball covers are sometimes treated with water- or soil-repellent fluorochemicals to…
Spalding golf balls have higher concern due to water-repellent coating with undisclosed chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Spalding and PFAS, common questions
- Does Spalding have PFAS?
- We graded 12 Spalding products, averaging Good (66/100). 6 grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Spalding non-toxic?
- Spalding 5x3 Set of Golf Balls 1980 Box is the highest-graded Spalding product we have scored, at 85/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Spalding products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Spalding products we have scored are Spalding 5x3 Set of Golf Balls 1980 Box, Spalding Top Flite Xl High Trajectory Golf Balls Set Of 12 - In Box, Spalding Aloha Classics Hawaii Series Golf Ball Set. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Spalding products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Spalding products we have scored are Golf balls Spalding (x36), Spalding Golf Balls - Dozen, NEW Vintage Spalding Surlyn Cover Super-Flite 1 Dozen Golf Balls. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →