Titleist · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
Titleist Men's Players Golf Glove
Golf gloves likely contain water-repellent coating. Titleist silent on PFAS.
Golf gloves typically use water-resistant water-repellent coating treatments that may contain PFAS. Titleist discloses no PFAS information. Direct contact with brand recommended for coating details.
The safe swap
Mizuno
Mizuno Comp Glove
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
Leather/synthetic with water-resistant treatment
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
Titleist Players gloves combine leather (typically cabretta or synthetic leather) with synthetic backing and a water-resistant treatment applied to the surface. The water repellency almost certainly relies on fluorinated compounds (PFAS class) rather than silicone-based alternatives, which is standard across the golf glove industry. Leather itself is inert when untreated, but the finishing chemicals are the primary exposure route during use and care.
The brand's record and disclosure
Titleist (Acushnet Holdings) does not publicly disclose PFAS use, specific chemical treatments, or third-party certifications (such as Bluesign or GOTS) for apparel products. The company maintains silent disclosure on water-repellent coating chemistry across its glove line. No recalls or established safety controversies are on record for this specific product.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves universally apply water-repellent treatments; Titleist is mainstream in this regard with no documented differentiation toward lower-PFAS alternatives. Some competitors (e.g., Bionic, Callaway) similarly lack transparent PFAS claims. Premium leather gloves across brands share identical chemical treatment profiles. Glove category has lower total chemical exposure than synthetic footwear or outerwear due to minimal surface area contact.
If you buy it
Wash hands after use to minimize residual coating contact, especially before eating. Replace gloves every 6-12 months or when the grip surface degrades, as worn coating may shed microparticles. Store dry; do not machine wash or apply heat (dryer, direct sunlight). Avoid prolonged contact with skin in hot, sweaty conditions if you have sensitive skin, since the water-resistant coating can trap moisture and irritate.
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-repellent coating
Water-resistant golf glove finishes virtually always use per- or polyfluoroalkyl compounds. Titleist has not disclosed alternatives or banned PFAS. Direct skin contact is limited but repeated use may incrementally expose hands to coating residues.
Formaldehyde in leather tanning or synthetic backing
Leather tanning and synthetic fabric finishes may contain formaldehyde-releasing resins. No specific test data for Titleist gloves exists in public records. Inhalation risk is minimal during wear; off-gassing is typical only immediately after manufacture.
Heavy metals in dyes (leather)
Leather dyeing can introduce lead, chromium, or cadmium in low-regulation tanneries. Titleist does not disclose tannery standards or metal testing. No recalls or contamination reports are documented for this product line.
Synthetic backing degradation and microfiber shedding
Repeated flexing and friction (swing grip) cause the synthetic backing to shed microfibers onto hands and into sweat. This is a common durability issue across synthetic-blend gloves rather than a toxicity hazard per se, but accumulation over months of use is foreseeable.
Skin irritation from coating or dyes
Some users report contact dermatitis from glove coatings, particularly in humid conditions when moisture is trapped under the water-repellent layer. Risk is individual; no brand-specific adverse event data is available for Titleist.
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
Callaway
Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove
leather and synthetic materials
Golf glove with lower PFAS concern; no known high-risk coatings.
⚠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.