PFAS40/ 100Poor
Overall22/ 100Bad
Used Top Flite 12 Ball Assorted 12 Pack - Golf Balls

Top Flite · Golf Balls & Equipment

Used Top Flite 12 Ball Assorted 12 Pack - Golf Balls

Poor

Golf balls likely treated for water resistance. PFAS risk unknown.

Verdict · SkipGolf balls pose minimal chemical hazard in normal use; PFAS uncertainty is noted but does not justify avoidance for recreational play.

Golf balls typically receive water-resistant surface treatments to maintain performance in wet conditions. Top Flite does not publicly disclose PFAS presence or absence in their ball coatings.

The better-graded swap

Callaway Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove

Callaway

Callaway Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove

85/100 safety

85Excellent

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

Synthetic rubber/polymer core with plastic coating

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.

90/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
♾️

Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment

Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.

65/ 100
♾️

PFAS

Golf balls are typically treated for water and scuff resistance; PFAS compounds are a known chemistry in this application across the industry. Top Flite provides no disclosure, so presence and concentration are unknown.

Source, ATSDR
70/ 100

Polymer coating degradation

Surlyn and urethane covers degrade over time and with UV exposure, particularly on used balls. Cracking or peeling may expose inner core material; any ingestion risk (e.g., small children) would apply only to degraded specimens.

70/ 100
⚠️

Ingestion hazard

Small children and pets may choke on or ingest golf balls. This is a mechanical/choking hazard rather than a chemical one, but relevant to safety assessment for households with young children.

45/ 100

What’s reassuring

⛏️

Heavy metals

No recalls or published test data suggest heavy metal contamination in Top Flite ball coatings. Pigments are typical in golf ball manufacturing but are not documented as a hazard in this product.

Source, FDA
95/ 100

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing

Synthetic rubber and plastic cores may emit trace VOCs, especially when new or warm. Exposure is minimal in outdoor recreational use; no published data link golf balls to indoor air quality issues.

95/ 100

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Top Flite golf balls use a synthetic rubber or polymer-based core wrapped in a plastic (typically surlyn or urethane) cover. These materials are not designed for ingestion or prolonged skin contact, so off-gassing or leaching into food or saliva is not a primary route of exposure. The cover coating may include water-resistance treatments, which historically have involved PFAS compounds in the golf industry, though Top Flite does not publicly disclose formulation details.

The brand's record and disclosure

Top Flite (owned by Callaway Golf) does not publicly disclose PFAS use, manufacturing certifications, or material safety data for individual ball products. The company has not issued statements on chemical restrictions or third-party testing. This silence is typical in the golf equipment sector, where ingredient transparency is not standard practice.

How it compares in its category

Golf balls are low-risk consumer products compared to cookware, textiles, or cosmetics because contact is intermittent, indirect, and typically limited to hands and outdoor environments. Most golf balls across brands rely on similar synthetic rubber and plastic compositions with undisclosed weather-resistance coatings. No established lower-concern alternative exists in this category based on public chemical disclosure.

If you buy it

Handle balls with dry hands; wash hands after play if desired. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to slow polymer degradation. Do not allow children to chew or mouth the balls. Discard if the cover shows cracking, peeling, or visible discoloration, as degraded coating may increase exposure to core material. Used balls show no hazard of this kind on record for normal play and pose no additional concern beyond new stock.

What we don’t know

Basis
Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
Lab test
None on record for this exact product
Brand statement
Top Flite has made none

Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.

Better-graded alternatives in Golf Balls & Equipment

Vice Drip Golf Balls

Vice Golf

Vice Drip Golf Balls

synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade85Excellent
Excellent

PFAS unlikely. Brand silent on composition details.

Brand says nothing about PFAS

Bridgestone Men's Pair Golf Gloves

Bridgestone

Men's Pair Golf Gloves

Leather, synthetic leather, or textile blend

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade59Good
⚠️

Chromium in leather tanning residue

Limited concern

70
🎨

Azo dyes in colored leather or synthetic components

Limited concern

70
⛏️

Heavy metals

Limited concern

70

Lower PFAS concern, but brand provides no transparency.

Brand says nothing about PFAS

Bridgestone Lady Golf Glove

Bridgestone

Lady Golf Glove

Synthetic leather or leather with standard stitching

PFAS Grade85Excellent
Overall Grade59Good
💨

Formaldehyde / VOCs

Limited concern

70
🫧

Microplastic shedding from synthetic leather

Limited concern

70

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.