Vice Drip Golf Balls vs Staff Model X Golf Balls: which is safer?
Vice Drip Golf Balls is the clear pick. Wilson Staff Model X Golf Balls carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
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
Staff Model X Golf Balls
PFAS grade
Poor 40/100
Overall grade
Bad 14/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Surlyn cover with internal windings, water-resistant treatment
Confidence
35%
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coatings
PossibleSurlyn cover degradation and leaching
PossibleMicroplastic shedding
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PFAS in water-repellent coatings, Surlyn cover degradation and leaching and Microplastic shedding on the Wilson and not on the Vice Golf.
- The Vice Golf is synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover where the Wilson is Surlyn cover with internal windings, water-resistant treatment, 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 Vice Golf is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Wilson 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