Vice Drip Golf Balls vs Smart-Core Golf Balls: which is safer?

Vice Drip Golf Balls is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Vice Drip Golf Balls

Vice Golf

Vice Drip Golf Balls

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 85/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

none flagged

Material

synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover

Confidence

72%
Wilson Smart-Core Golf Balls

Wilson

Smart-Core Golf Balls

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 81/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

Synthetic rubber core, thermoplastic cover

Confidence

72%

PossibleChoking hazard (non-applicable to adult golfers)

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Choking hazard (non-applicable to adult golfers) on the Wilson and not on the Vice Golf.
  • The Vice Golf is synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover where the Wilson is Synthetic rubber core, thermoplastic cover, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.

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