OnCore · Golf Equipment & Balls
OnCore Golf Balls
No public PFAS data; golf ball cover materials often use Teflon-family coating.
OnCore provides no public PFAS disclosure. Golf ball covers commonly contain durable coatings that may include fluorochemicals for water and scuff resistance. No independent testing found.
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
Urethane/rubber core, dimpled synthetic cover
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
OnCore balls use a urethane or synthetic rubber cover over a rubber/urethane core, a standard composition across most modern golf balls. These materials are chemically stable during normal use (room temperature, outdoor exposure, impact). Unlike cookware or food-contact plastics, golf balls do not leach into consumables and are not heated or microwaved. The dimple pattern is pressed into the cover and does not involve coatings that degrade or shed microplastics under typical play conditions.
The brand's record and disclosure
OnCore (owned by Callaway Golf) does not publish detailed material safety data sheets or PFAS content statements for consumer golf balls. The brand has no major product recalls or safety controversies on record. Industry-wide, golf ball manufacturers rarely disclose Teflon-family coating use in covers, though it is common for water-repellent durability. OnCore offers no third-party certifications for material composition or toxicity screening.
How it compares in its category
OnCore balls are mid-range to premium performance products comparable to Titleist Pro V1, Callaway Chrome Soft, and Bridgestone Tour B in construction and material class. All major brands use similar urethane or synthetic elastomer covers; none disclose PFAS status. Golf balls as a category carry minimal consumer safety risk compared to daily-contact products like cookware or textiles. Durability and cover degradation (observable wear, scuffing) occur over hundreds of shots, not from chemical leaching.
If you buy it
Store balls at room temperature away from direct sunlight; UV exposure degrades synthetic covers over time but does not create a safety issue. Discard balls when cover becomes visibly scuffed, cracked, or loses water repellency (typically after 50-100 rounds depending on play intensity). Do not incinerate used balls; standard landfill or recycling programs are appropriate. Wash with mild soap and water if desired; no special handling is required.
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.”
Teflon-family coating cover (potential PFAS source)
Golf ball covers often use Teflon-family coating for water resistance and durability, but PFAS content is not disclosed by OnCore or competitors. No leaching occurs during normal play; hazard is occupational (manufacturing) or environmental (landfill/incineration), not consumer use.
Microplastic shedding
Synthetic urethane/rubber covers are dense and durable; they do not shed microplastics under normal play impact. Cover degradation produces visible flaking, not fine particulates that would be inhaled or ingested.
Heavy metals in pigments or dyes
No public data or recalls exist for cadmium, lead, or other toxic metals in OnCore ball coatings. Cosmetic dyes in golf ball covers are not ingested and face no safety standard for this non-food product.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
Urethane and rubber balls may emit trace VOCs when new, but exposure is negligible during outdoor play and dissipates quickly. No respiratory or neurological hazard is established for golf balls stored or used in normal conditions.
Allergic reaction to material components
Urethane and rubber are low-allergen materials. No cases of contact dermatitis or latex-type reactions from OnCore balls appear in public records. Risk is comparable to synthetic sports equipment (synthetic rubber grips, polymer apparel).
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
Wilson
Staff Zip Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber/elastomer cover, solid core
Lower concern. Golf ball cores/covers rarely treated with PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Vice Golf
24-Ball Variety Pack
Urethane and synthetic rubber cover over core materials
Golf balls carry low PFAS risk; no public concerns documented.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Vice Golf
Boost Starter Set
Surlyn cover, rubber/synthetic components
Golf balls carry minimal PFAS risk; skip only if extreme caution desired.
⚠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.