Mizuno · Golf Equipment & Balls
Mizuno RB 566 Golf Balls
Lower concern golf ball; standard polymer construction without known PFAS.
Mizuno RB 566 uses conventional golf ball materials (rubber core, polymer cover) with no public PFAS disclosures or red flags. No independent testing available, but standard golf ball construction poses minimal PFAS risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Synthetic rubber/resin core, surlyn or polyurethane cover
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
The RB 566 uses a synthetic rubber or resin core wrapped in a Surlyn or polyurethane cover, a construction standard across modern golf balls. These materials are inert during normal use (striking and flight); they do not leach into skin or contact food. The cover's durability matters mainly for play performance and longevity, not chemical safety. No volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released during typical handling or storage at room temperature.
The brand's record and disclosure
Mizuno, a major Japanese sports equipment manufacturer, maintains no publicly documented safety recalls or chemical disclosure controversies for golf balls. The brand does not advertise specific certifications for materials safety (e.g., heavy metal testing or flame retardant avoidance) in this product category. Silence on PFAS use in golf ball coatings is standard across the industry; no manufacturer has disclosed intentional PFAS addition to recreational golf balls to date.
How it compares in its category
Golf balls across all brands (Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone) use chemically similar core and cover systems. The RB 566 sits in the mid-tier performance segment with no material advantage or disadvantage relative to peers. Unlike footwear or textiles, golf balls incur no skin contact during play and no ingestion risk, placing them in a lower-hazard category than most consumer products.
If you buy it
Store at room temperature in a dry location; extreme heat (above 140F/60C) may degrade the cover over years of storage but poses no acute chemical risk. Inspect covers for scuffs or cracks before play; damaged balls should be retired for performance reasons, not safety. Hand-washing after play removes dirt but is optional for safety. Normal use carries no documented health risk.
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.”
Polymer cover degradation and microplastics
Surlyn and polyurethane covers degrade with repeated play, UV exposure, and impact stress. Shed microparticles may accumulate in water hazards and turf; ingestion risk to humans is negligible during normal recreational use.
Heavy metals in cover pigments
No public reports of lead, cadmium, or antimony testing in Mizuno RB 566 covers. Golf ball manufacturers are not subject to toy safety (CPSIA) or food-contact regulations. No recalls or hazard notices exist on record for this product or brand.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing
Synthetic rubber and polyurethane cores and covers do not emit measurable VOCs during normal storage or use at room temperature. Sealed plastic packaging may retain minor manufacturing odors that dissipate quickly upon opening.
Skin sensitization from cover material contact
Surlyn and polyurethane are widely used in contact sports equipment and do not cause documented allergic reactions or dermatitis in normal handling. Golf balls require no skin contact during play itself.
Thermal off-gassing if overheated
Prolonged exposure to temperatures above 160F (71C) may initiate decomposition of polyurethane or synthetic rubber, releasing low-level odorous compounds. This is unlikely in typical use and poses no acute hazard to players.
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 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.