TaylorMade · Golf Balls & Equipment
TaylorMade Tour Preferred Golf Glove
Water-resistant glove; PFAS risk uncertain due to brand silence.
Treated leather and synthetic materials give this glove water resistance, but TaylorMade won't disclose PFAS information, leaving coating details unclear.
The better-graded swap
Mizuno
Mizuno Cabretta Leather Golf Glove
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Leather palm with synthetic back, water-resistant finish
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-resistant finishes on textiles and leather commonly use PFAS-based compounds; TaylorMade has not disclosed the specific chemistry of this glove's coating. Skin contact risk from a glove is low, but inhalation during manufacturing and eventual disposal are the primary concern pathways.
Source, ATSDR ↗Allergens from leather or dyes
Individuals with known leather or metal allergies may react to the palm or dyes used in processing. This is a personal sensitivity issue rather than a product defect and is not specific to TaylorMade's manufacturing.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
Leather production typically involves chromium or other heavy metal salts in tanning. No specific testing or recall data exists for TaylorMade golf gloves, and direct skin contact with treated leather under normal wear is a low-risk pathway for systemic absorption.
Source, FDA ↗Synthetic back material degradation
The polyester or nylon back is stable under normal use and does not leach chemicals into skin at room temperature. Microfiber shedding is theoretically possible but not established as a concern for performance gloves worn intermittently.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Textile processing can introduce formaldehyde resins or azo dyes; no testing or complaints are on record for this product. The synthetic back is not water-resistant and undergoes less intensive finishing than the palm, reducing risk.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Tour Preferred glove combines genuine leather on the palm with synthetic (likely polyester or nylon) on the back, finished with a water-resistant coating. Leather itself is a processed animal material with low inherent toxicity risk compared to plastics, but the water-resistant treatment applied to achieve performance is the key variable. The synthetic back material is stable under normal use conditions and does not involve heating, so typical plastic leaching concerns are minimal.
The brand's record and disclosure
TaylorMade has not published detailed chemical disclosure or PFAS-free certifications for this product line. The brand has no recorded recalls or public controversies specific to chemical safety in golf gloves. This silence on water-resistant coating chemistry is typical across the golf equipment industry and does not indicate a known problem, but it does mean PFAS presence cannot be ruled out.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves are lower-risk than many consumer products because they do not contact food, are not heated, and are worn on the exterior only. Compared to other leather-palm gloves in the market, TaylorMade's mainstream positioning and quality reputation suggest reasonable manufacturing standards, though no independent testing data is publicly available. Water-resistant golf gloves as a category all carry the same unconfirmed PFAS coating risk.
If you buy it
Wash the glove by hand in lukewarm water after use to remove sweat and debris; avoid machine washing and tumble drying, which can degrade the water-resistant finish and leather. Store in a dry place away from direct heat. Replace when the palm shows visible wear or grip is compromised, typically after 2-3 seasons of regular play. Do not expose to hot water, solvents, or prolonged sunlight, as these can damage both the coating and leather.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- TaylorMade has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Golf Balls & Equipment
Vice Golf
Vice Drip Golf Balls
synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover
PFAS unlikely. Brand silent on composition details.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Bridgestone
Men's Pair Golf Gloves
Leather, synthetic leather, or textile blend
Chromium in leather tanning residue
Limited concern
Azo dyes in colored leather or synthetic components
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern, but brand provides no transparency.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Bridgestone
Lady Golf Glove
Synthetic leather or leather with standard stitching
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic leather
Limited concern
Golf glove with typical materials, lower concern profile.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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.