Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball vs Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls: which is safer?

Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls is the clear pick. Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball

Nike Golf

Nike 36-Count Mint Recycled Golf Ball

PFAS grade

Poor 40/100

Overall grade

Bad 18/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Recycled rubber/synthetic polymer with coating

Confidence

35%

LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating

PossibleCoating degradation and microparticle shedding

Our pick

Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls

Nike Golf

Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 81/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

Synthetic rubber/elastomer golf ball core and cover

Confidence

72%

PossibleMicroplastic shedding

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag PFAS in DWR coating and Coating degradation and microparticle shedding on the Nike Golf and not on the Nike Golf.
  • We flag Microplastic shedding on the Nike Golf and not on the Nike Golf.
  • The Nike Golf is Recycled rubber/synthetic polymer with coating where the Nike Golf is Synthetic rubber/elastomer golf ball core and cover, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Nike Golf is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Nike Golf grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More golf balls & equipment: see the full ranking