Dunlop Sports · Golf Balls & Equipment
Dunlop Loco Golf Ball Pack - Perfect for Indoor and Outdoor Play
Lower concern. Golf balls are inherently low-risk PFAS products.
Golf balls contain Surlyn cover and rubber core, materials not typically treated with PFAS. Dunlop provides no PFAS disclosure. No lab testing found in public domain.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Surlyn cover, synthetic 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 Loco balls use a Surlyn cover (a type of ionomer resin) bonded to a synthetic rubber core. Surlyn is a thermoplastic material chosen for durability and water resistance in golf balls because it resists cracking and UV degradation better than traditional balata. Neither Surlyn nor synthetic rubber cores are known to leach toxic compounds into soil, water, or user hands during normal use. The material is chemically inert once cured and does not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) after manufacturing.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dunlop Sports is part of the Srixon-Dunlop division (owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries) and has not published detailed material safety or PFAS disclosure statements specific to golf balls. The brand has no documented recalls or safety controversies tied to Loco or comparable Dunlop ball lines. Industry-wide, golf ball manufacturers rarely disclose full chemical composition beyond cover and core type, though Surlyn formulations are long-established and widely accepted in consumer and professional play.
How it compares in its category
Loco balls sit in the mid-range recreational segment and use the same core Surlyn technology found in premium balls from Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade. No meaningful safety difference exists between brands at this material level. Budget alternatives sometimes use cheaper cover materials (like urethane-resin blends) with less predictable aging, but Surlyn is among the most chemically stable options available in golf ball design.
If you buy it
Store balls in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight to slow cover degradation and maintain performance; UV exposure causes cosmetic yellowing and can eventually crack the cover after years, but does not create a safety hazard. Replace balls when the cover cracks or dents heavily, as performance degrades rather than safety risk emerging. No special cleaning protocols are needed beyond mild soap and water. Children using these balls face no elevated risk compared to adult play.
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 leaching (Surlyn ionomer)
Surlyn is a cross-linked thermoplastic and does not leach plasticizers, heavy metals, or endocrine disruptors into water or skin under normal recreational use. No published studies or recalls document leaching from Surlyn golf balls.
Synthetic rubber core off-gassing or degradation
Modern synthetic rubber cores in Dunlop Loco are formulated for minimal VOC emission and do not off-gas measurably after manufacturing curing. No volatile odors or respiratory hazards are associated with this product category.
Heavy metals in pigments or coatings
Golf ball paint and cover dyes are not known to contain lead, cadmium, or antimony in documented products from major manufacturers. Dunlop has no recorded incidents. The white cover minimizes pigment use overall.
Microplastic shedding during play
Normal abrasion from grass, club contact, and water exposure may generate microscopic fragments of Surlyn and rubber over a ball's multi-year lifespan. Environmental accumulation in turf ecosystems is theoretically possible but not quantified for golf balls specifically and not a user safety concern.
Choking or aspiration risk (children)
Golf ball diameter (1.68 inches minimum) exceeds typical choking hazard thresholds for children over age 8. Intentional material degradation (cutting open the ball) would be required to create this risk, and is not a realistic hazard in supervised recreational use.
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.