Lamkin · Golf Balls & Equipment
Sonar+ Black Golf Grip
Low PFAS risk likely, but brand offers no transparency on materials.
Golf grips are typically rubber or synthetic elastomers, lower PFAS concern than coated items. Lamkin provides no public PFAS disclosure for this product.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Rubber/elastomer grip
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Sonar+ Black Golf Grip is made of, ingredients and materials
The Sonar+ Black is a rubber or synthetic elastomer grip, a standard golf club handle coating designed for traction, comfort, and durability. Rubber grips do not inherently leach metals or volatile organics at the rates seen in some coated cookware or upholstered furniture. The black pigmentation may use carbon black or organic dyes, but neither is routinely associated with heavy metal contamination in molded elastomer products for sports equipment. Grip materials are not heated, ingested, or worn against skin for extended periods, reducing exposure pathways for typical elastomer contaminants.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from elastomer off-gassing
Molded rubber and synthetic elastomer grips may release trace VOCs during manufacturing and cure; however, by the time a grip reaches the consumer, off-gassing is minimal. Field exposure to VOCs from a golf grip is negligible because grips are used outdoors and are not heated or enclosed.
Skin irritation from dyes or additives
Synthetic rubber grips may contain colorants or processing aids that could theoretically cause contact dermatitis in individuals with rubber or dye sensitivity, but this is rare and not specific to the Sonar+ Black. Users with known latex or elastomer allergies should confirm the grip is synthetic (non-latex) before purchase.
Microplastics
As elastomer grips age and degrade, they may shed small rubber particles, particularly if cracked or heavily abraded. Shed particles are confined to the golf club and golfer's hands; environmental or ingestion risk is minimal for end users.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
Black pigmentation in golf grips typically uses carbon black, which is not a known source of lead or cadmium in elastomer products. No recalls or safety alerts for Lamkin grips citing pigment contamination are on record.
Source, FDA ↗Adhesive or bonding agent leachables
The grip is bonded to the club shaft using standard golf grip adhesives (typically solvent-based compounds). Once cured, these adhesives are not a direct exposure hazard to the user, though off-gassing during application affects production workers, not consumers.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Lamkin is a long-established grip manufacturer without known product recalls or material safety violations on public record. The brand does not publish material safety data sheets or PFAS statements for consumer grips, which is common in the sports equipment industry but limits third-party verification of composition. No certifications (e.g., ISO, RoHS, or material-specific standards) are publicly documented for this product. Absence of disclosure does not indicate a hazard, but it reflects a broader industry pattern of minimal transparency for non-regulated sports accessories.
How it compares in its category
Golf grips are a relatively low-concern product category because they are not food-contact, not heated significantly during normal use, and not a primary exposure route for chemical leaching. Rubber and synthetic elastomer grips dominate the market and have not generated the safety concerns seen in, for example, leather wraps treated with chromium tanning agents or polyurethane foams with flame retardants. The Sonar+ Black sits squarely in the standard material profile for mid-to-premium golf grips; it is neither novel nor known to use unusual additives that would elevate risk relative to competitors.
If you buy it
Golf grips degrade naturally over time through UV exposure, sweat, and abrasion; expect to replace the Sonar+ Black after 1-2 years of regular play. Clean grips periodically with mild soap and water to remove salt and oils that accelerate degradation. Do not store grips in direct sunlight for extended periods or in extreme heat (above 50 C / 122 F), as elastomers can harden or off-gas VOCs under stress. Inspect for visible cracking or tacky deterioration; a grip losing texture or becoming sticky is a sign of material breakdown and should be replaced to maintain club control.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Lamkin has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More golf balls & equipment grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.