Honma · Golf Equipment & Balls
Honma BERES 5S Plus 6-Layer Golf Balls,Tour-Level Spin Control & Stable Flight Golfballs,Max Distance with Soft Urethane
Golf balls rarely disclose coating details; urethane composition unverified.
Honma provides no PFAS disclosure for this product. Urethane and multi-layer golf ball compositions often involve proprietary treatments; specific coating materials remain unspecified.
The safe swap
Wilson
Wilson Staff Zip Golf Balls
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its B.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Soft urethane cover, multi-layer core (unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Unknown / proprietary coating
Proprietary coating with no disclosed chemistry.
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
The Honma BERES 5S Plus uses a soft urethane cover over a multi-layer core (composition unspecified by manufacturer). Urethane polymers are chemically stable and not known to leach hazardous substances during normal handling or play. The inner layers likely contain synthetic rubber or ionomer blends, standard in tour-level balls, which do not off-gas or degrade under typical golf conditions. No volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or formaldehyde are associated with cured urethane golf ball construction.
The brand's record and disclosure
Honma is a Japanese golf equipment manufacturer with no public product recalls or safety controversies on record for golf balls. The brand does not publish detailed chemical composition or environmental certifications for this product line. Like most golf ball makers, Honma does not disclose PFAS use in coatings or manufacturing, leaving urethane surface treatment composition opaque to consumers. No third-party testing of this specific model is publicly available.
How it compares in its category
Golf balls across premium brands (Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone) are manufactured to similar standards; urethane covers are the industry norm for tour-level spin control. Honma's multi-layer construction is typical and does not present atypical hazard exposure vs. competitors. Golf balls are not routinely tested for consumer safety because they are not ingested, worn, or heated in use. This product sits in the middle-to-premium segment with no distinguishing safety advantage or deficit versus peers.
If you buy it
Golf balls require no special handling or maintenance beyond standard storage in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent UV degradation of the urethane cover. Do not heat or microwave golf balls. Replace balls if the cover cracks, peels, or becomes visibly compromised, as water ingress may degrade internal layers. Wash hands after handling if desired, though urethane surfaces do not shed particles during normal 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.”
Urethane cover degradation and water intrusion
Over extended play or improper storage, urethane can lose elasticity and develop micro-cracks, allowing water into the core. This degrades ball performance but poses no direct health risk; discard compromised balls.
Heavy metals in pigments or core binders
No reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in Honma golf balls or urethane golf ball manufacturing. Industry standards do not flag this as a concern for finished balls.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Cured urethane and synthetic rubber cores do not off-gas VOCs under normal temperature conditions. No formaldehyde or solvent residues are associated with finished golf ball products.
Microplastic shedding
Urethane covers do not shed microplastics during normal play on grass or indoor mats. Impact and friction do not cause surface particle release unless the ball is visibly damaged.
PFAS in urethane coating or processing
Honma does not disclose coating treatments or water-repellent additives; some urethane formulations may incorporate PFAS compounds to enhance durability and water resistance. Graded separately per PFAS protocol (50/100 safety).
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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.
Safer alternatives in Golf Equipment & Balls
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⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Vice Golf
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Vice Golf
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⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More golf equipment & balls 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.