Dunlop Sports · Golf Balls & Equipment
Dunlop Deep Distance 12 Golf Balls Sports Accessories Equipment USGA Rules
Lower concern golf balls. No PFAS-typical features identified.
Dunlop Deep Distance balls use standard synthetic rubber and surlyn cover materials common in golf balls, with no known PFAS-related treatments. Brand disclosure on PFAS is absent, typical for the category.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Synthetic rubber/surlyn cover with rubber core
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Dunlop Deep Distance balls use a Surlyn cover (ionomer resin) over a rubber core, a standard construction for mid-range golf balls. Surlyn is a thermoplastic polymer with no known leaching hazards during normal use, since golf balls are not food contact surfaces and are not heated. The rubber core is similarly inert during play. This material combination has decades of use history without documented consumer safety incidents.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dunlop Sports does not publish detailed material safety disclosures specific to golf balls, which is typical for the industry. No product recalls, contamination incidents, or toxicology warnings for Dunlop Deep Distance golf balls appear in public records. The brand has no known involvement in PFAS-related controversies in sporting goods.
How it compares in its category
Golf balls across brands (Titleist, Callaway, Bridgestone) use nearly identical Surlyn or urethane cover materials with rubber or synthetic cores. Dunlop Deep Distance sits in the mid-performance, mid-cost segment with no safety differentiation from competitors. The PFAS assessment already grades this product as lower concern relative to other golf balls, largely because golf balls lack the water-repellent coatings that drive PFAS use in other sports equipment.
If you buy it
Golf balls require no special handling or care beyond standard storage in a cool, dry place. Do not boil, microwave, or expose to prolonged heat above 140F, as this could theoretically degrade the cover, though this is not a realistic use scenario. Replace balls if the cover cracks, peels, or develops deep scuffs that expose the core. No maintenance is needed beyond occasional washing with mild soap and water.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Cover material degradation and microparticle shedding
Surlyn covers can degrade over years of use or UV exposure, potentially shedding polymer particles. Risk is low for golfers but non-zero for the environment if balls are lost in water or nature. This is a material-class property, not specific to Dunlop.
Rubber core degradation and ozone cracking
Rubber cores can theoretically crack under ozone exposure or extreme UV, but no specific incidents are documented for Dunlop Deep Distance balls or this category. Standard storage indoors eliminates this risk.
Heavy metals in paint or markings
Golf ball surface markings use inks and paints, but no heavy metal contamination has been reported for Dunlop or competitor brands. These are not food contact and pose negligible dermal risk.
Choking hazard for small children
Golf balls are small, hard objects that could present a choking risk if swallowed by children under 8. This is an age-appropriate use issue, not a material toxicity issue.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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.