Vice Golf · Golf Balls & Equipment
Vice Golf Boost Starter Set
Minimal PFAS risk. Skip only if extreme caution required.
Surlyn cover and rubber-synthetic core present low inherent PFAS concern. Vice Golf makes no PFAS statement, which is standard for this category.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Surlyn cover, rubber/synthetic components
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.
Degradation and microparticle release
Surlyn cover can develop micro-cracks from repeated impact and UV exposure over 2-3 years of play, potentially releasing small plastic particles. Risk is minimal because particles remain on course or in hands and are not ingested or inhaled in meaningful quantity. No acute health event is documented from golf ball degradation.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and off-gassing
Surlyn and rubber compounds in cured golf balls do not off-gas measurably at room temperature. No literature or testing reports VOC emissions from Vice Boost or comparable golf balls under normal storage or use.
Heavy metals
Golf ball covers and cores are not known to contain lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals as functional additives. Vice does not disclose testing, but no recalls or findings suggest contamination in this product class.
Source, FDA ↗Skin irritation from surface residues or dyes
Vice Boost balls are painted with standard polyurethane or polyester-based dyes. No documented sensitization or contact dermatitis from handling Vice or competitor golf balls; brief hand contact during play is insufficient for penetration.
Thermal instability under extreme conditions
Surlyn softens above 140F but does not release hazardous volatiles. Stored in a hot car or direct sun for extended periods, a ball may become slightly misshapen but poses no chemical safety risk; this is a performance issue, not a toxicology issue.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Vice Golf Boost balls feature a Surlyn cover, a thermoplastic resin widely used across the golf industry for durability and cut resistance. The core is synthetic rubber compound designed to optimize ball flight and distance. Surlyn and rubber are stable polymers under normal use conditions (room temperature, brief handling, storage in dry conditions) and do not leach chemicals into skin or food. The ball experiences extreme stress during play (compression, heat from friction with club face) but these are brief, localized events that do not compromise material integrity or release volatile compounds in quantities of health concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
Vice Golf has not published detailed material safety data sheets or third-party certifications for chemical composition beyond general marketing claims of quality and performance. The brand does not publicly disclose testing for heavy metals, phthalates, or volatile organic compounds in finished balls. No product recalls or safety complaints are on record for Vice Golf balls in the consumer safety literature. This silence is typical for the golf equipment industry, where finished balls are not FDA or consumer-protection-agency regulated products in most markets.
How it compares in its category
Golf balls across all major brands (Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Vice) use chemically similar cover and core materials; Surlyn is the industry standard for mid-market balls. Vice's pricing and positioning suggest cost-conscious manufacturing but not shortcuts in core material safety. No credible evidence suggests golf balls from any major brand pose acute or chronic chemical exposure risks during normal play or storage. The category carries minimal inherent hazard compared to items with prolonged skin contact, ingestion risk, or heating.
If you buy it
Store balls in a dry, temperature-stable location (avoid prolonged heat exposure above 140F/60C, which can soften Surlyn slightly over years, though this affects performance before safety). Wash hands after handling if you have sensitive skin or cuts, as a precaution against dust or minor residues, though risk is negligible. Replace balls if cover develops deep cracks or peeling, which degrades performance and could theoretically expose internal rubber, though this is a functional concern before a safety one. No special disposal guidance is required; finished balls are inert and can be discarded in regular waste or recycled through specialized programs in some regions.
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
- Vice Golf 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.