Mizuno · Golf Balls & Equipment
Mizuno RB Tour Golf Balls
Lower concern, but manufacturer transparency on PFAS absent.
Golf ball covers typically use Surlyn or similar synthetic resins not inherently reliant on PFAS. Mizuno provides no public PFAS disclosure for this product line, and no independent testing data exists.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Surlyn and other thermoplastic cover resins
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Surlyn cover degradation and microplastic shedding
Repeated impact and UV exposure over years may cause microscopic surface breakdown. Shed particles are too large to inhale and unlikely to enter food chains during typical play, but accumulation in turf/waterways is an environmental concern, not acute consumer hazard.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
No lead, cadmium, or other regulated heavy metals are documented in golf ball cores or covers. Surlyn and elastomer formulations used in ball manufacture do not typically incorporate these elements.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Surlyn and elastomer cores do not rely on formaldehyde-releasing resins or high-VOC adhesives. Golf balls are not enclosed spaces and do not release detectable odors that would indicate off-gassing concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗Allergic contact dermatitis from cover materials
Surlyn is a non-sensitizing plastic. No documented cases of golf ball-induced dermatitis from Mizuno or competitors exist in public records. Risk is negligible for the general population.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Mizuno RB Tour balls use Surlyn (a thermoplastic polyester ionomer) as the cover material, which is chemically inert under normal playing conditions. The core is typically rubber or synthetic elastomer blends. Surlyn does not leach or off-gas meaningfully during outdoor use at ambient temperatures, and golf balls are not food contact items, heating vessels, or worn against skin for extended periods. The material was chosen for durability and performance, not safety risk mitigation.
The brand's record and disclosure
Mizuno is a Japanese sporting goods manufacturer with no documented safety recalls or chemical disclosure controversies specific to golf balls. The company has not published detailed material safety or PFAS sourcing statements for ball products, consistent with industry silence on these topics. No third-party testing or certification (e.g., eco-labels) for golf balls is standard across the category, making comparative transparency difficult.
How it compares in its category
Golf ball safety profiles are largely indistinguishable across brands because cover material (Surlyn, Urethane) and core construction vary only in performance properties, not hazard profile. Mizuno RB Tour sits in the mid-premium segment; cheaper balls and premium alternatives share the same material chemistry exposure. The category itself carries negligible chemical hazard relative to cookware, textiles, or food storage products because contact is outdoor, brief, and non-ingestion.
If you buy it
Store golf balls at room temperature and away from direct sunlight to avoid potential micro-degradation of the Surlyn cover over years (not a health hazard, but cosmetic). Do not heat or microwave balls. Wash hands after extended handling if you have sensitive skin or dermatitis, though allergic reaction to Surlyn is rare. Replace balls when the cover cracks or delaminates, which signals end-of-life, not a safety event.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Mizuno 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.