TaylorMade · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
TaylorMade Tour Preferred Golf Glove
Golf glove with water-resistant coating; PFAS risk unclear due to silent brand stance.
TaylorMade Tour Preferred uses treated leather and synthetic materials with water resistance. Brand discloses no PFAS information; coating composition unspecified, creating moderate uncertainty.
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Material
Leather palm with synthetic back, water-resistant finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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 Tour Preferred glove combines genuine leather on the palm with synthetic (likely polyester or nylon) on the back, finished with a water-resistant coating. Leather itself is a processed animal material with low inherent toxicity risk compared to plastics, but the water-resistant treatment applied to achieve performance is the key variable. The synthetic back material is stable under normal use conditions and does not involve heating, so typical plastic leaching concerns are minimal.
The brand's record and disclosure
TaylorMade has not published detailed chemical disclosure or PFAS-free certifications for this product line. The brand has no recorded recalls or public controversies specific to chemical safety in golf gloves. This silence on water-resistant coating chemistry is typical across the golf equipment industry and does not indicate a known problem, but it does mean PFAS presence cannot be ruled out.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves are lower-risk than many consumer products because they do not contact food, are not heated, and are worn on the exterior only. Compared to other leather-palm gloves in the market, TaylorMade's mainstream positioning and quality reputation suggest reasonable manufacturing standards, though no independent testing data is publicly available. Water-resistant golf gloves as a category all carry the same unconfirmed PFAS coating risk.
If you buy it
Wash the glove by hand in lukewarm water after use to remove sweat and debris; avoid machine washing and tumble drying, which can degrade the water-resistant finish and leather. Store in a dry place away from direct heat. Replace when the palm shows visible wear or grip is compromised, typically after 2-3 seasons of regular play. Do not expose to hot water, solvents, or prolonged sunlight, as these can damage both the coating and leather.
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.”
PFAS in water-resistant coating
Water-resistant finishes on textiles and leather commonly use PFAS-based compounds; TaylorMade has not disclosed the specific chemistry of this glove's coating. Skin contact risk from a glove is low, but inhalation during manufacturing and eventual disposal are the primary concern pathways.
Chromium and heavy metals in leather tanning
Leather production typically involves chromium or other heavy metal salts in tanning. No specific testing or recall data exists for TaylorMade golf gloves, and direct skin contact with treated leather under normal wear is a low-risk pathway for systemic absorption.
Synthetic back material degradation
The polyester or nylon back is stable under normal use and does not leach chemicals into skin at room temperature. Microfiber shedding is theoretically possible but not established as a concern for performance gloves worn intermittently.
Formaldehyde or azo dyes in synthetic back
Textile processing can introduce formaldehyde resins or azo dyes; no testing or complaints are on record for this product. The synthetic back is not water-resistant and undergoes less intensive finishing than the palm, reducing risk.
Allergens from leather or dyes
Individuals with known leather or metal allergies may react to the palm or dyes used in processing. This is a personal sensitivity issue rather than a product defect and is not specific to TaylorMade's manufacturing.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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 Balls & Golf Equipment
Mizuno
Comp Glove
Leather/synthetic leather athletic glove
No known PFAS risk, but Mizuno discloses nothing about treatments.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Mizuno
Cabretta Leather Golf Glove
Cabretta leather, likely with standard leather tanning and finishing
Lower concern. Leather glove lacks water treatment trigger.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More golf balls & golf 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.