Titleist · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
Titleist Players Glove
Golf glove with likely water-repellent coating; limited public PFAS data available.
Titleist Players Gloves use leather with water-resistant treatment typical of golf gloves. Titleist provides no public PFAS disclosure for this product. water-repellent coating finishes may contain PFAS, but no confirmed data exists.
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 with water-resistant surface 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 Glove is constructed from leather (likely cabretta or similar premium hide) with a water-resistant surface treatment applied to enhance durability and performance in wet conditions. The coating is the primary variable: modern golf-glove water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finishes often contain fluorinated compounds (PFAS), though some manufacturers now use fluorine-free alternatives. Leather itself is stable and non-leaching under normal hand-contact conditions, but the finish chemistry determines chemical exposure risk during use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Titleist (owned by Acushnet Holdings) does not publicly disclose PFAS content or water-repellency chemistry for its apparel and accessories. The brand has no known major safety recalls related to chemical contamination in gloves. Titleist does not advertise PFAS-free or fluorine-free treatments, suggesting either use of conventional water-repellent coating or a deliberate choice not to differentiate on this issue. No third-party certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX) are claimed for this product.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves occupy a niche between athletic apparel and protective equipment; most competitors (Callaway, TaylorMade, FootJoy) also use water-resistant coatings with opaque chemistry. Unlike mass-market textiles, golf gloves receive minimal regulatory scrutiny and are rarely tested for chemical residue. Titleist's Players Glove is mid-to-premium tier with no documented chemical advantage or disadvantage versus rivals; the category as a whole lacks transparency on water-repellent coating formulations.
If you buy it
Wear the glove as intended (on one hand during play) with typical hand-washing or spot-cleaning in cool water. Do not machine wash or expose to high heat, which can degrade the coating and potentially release residues. Replace the glove when the palm grip degrades or the water-repellent coating visibly breaks down (typically after 40-80 rounds). Store in a dry place to prevent mold; no special maintenance beyond air-drying is needed.
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
Titleist does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. Most golf-glove manufacturers use fluorinated water repellents; fluorine-free alternatives exist but are not confirmed here. Hand contact is prolonged but skin absorption of dermal-contact PFAS is limited compared to inhalation or ingestion.
Leather tanning and heavy-metal residues
No recalls or documented lead/cadmium issues in Titleist leather gloves. Modern leather production in developed countries typically avoids heavy-metal tanning agents, though chromium (non-toxic form) remains common. Titleist does not publish tanning-process details.
Formaldehyde in dyes or finishing resins
Leather dyes and bonding resins can contain formaldehyde releasers, but leather gloves are not classified as high-formaldehyde products in published testing databases. No recalls or complaints on record for this brand.
Coating degradation and micro-fragment shedding
Water-resistant coatings can flake or shed as they degrade; small particles may contact skin or be ingested via hand-to-mouth contact. Risk is low during normal use but increases if the glove is worn until the coating visibly deteriorates. Replacement when grip integrity declines mitigates this.
Contact allergens in leather or dyes
Leather itself is low-allergen; synthetic dyes can occasionally trigger contact dermatitis, but no clusters of reactions to Titleist Players Glove are documented. Individuals with known leather or dye sensitivity should patch-test or choose synthetic alternatives.
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.