Wilson · Sports Equipment Coatings
Wilson Ultra Distance Golf Balls
Lower concern. Standard golf ball materials rarely require PFAS.
Golf balls typically use synthetic rubber and ionomer covers without intentional PFAS. Wilson does not disclose PFAS use. No public lab testing available for this model.
Shop Wilson on Amazon →Material
Synthetic rubber core, ionomer/urethane 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
Wilson Ultra Distance balls use a synthetic rubber core wrapped in an ionomer (or urethane) outer cover, a standard construction for modern golf balls. Ionomer is a thermoplastic polymer that bonds well to rubber and resists scuffing and water absorption during play. This material combination is chemically stable during normal handling and use; neither the rubber nor ionomer are known to leach hazardous substances into skin or the environment at room temperature or during outdoor play.
The brand's record and disclosure
Wilson (owned by Amer Sports) does not publicly disclose detailed material safety data sheets or third-party testing results for golf balls. The brand has no documented recalls or safety warnings specific to Ultra Distance balls or other golf ball models related to chemical hazards. Wilson has not made explicit statements about PFAS in golf balls, consistent with the golf ball industry's general silence on this topic.
How it compares in its category
Golf balls across all major brands (Callaway, Titleist, TaylorMade, Bridgestone) use similar synthetic rubber and ionomer or surlyn covers; Ultra Distance represents a typical mid-range product in material safety terms. Unlike sportswear or food-contact items, golf balls are not consumed and contact skin only briefly, limiting exposure routes for any theoretical hazards. The product category itself poses far lower consumer safety risk than cookware, textiles, or cosmetics.
If you buy it
Store golf balls at room temperature away from prolonged direct sunlight and heat (above 140F/60C can soften the cover). No special handling or cleaning precautions are required beyond rinsing with water. Discard balls only if the cover develops deep cracks or splits, which may affect flight performance rather than safety. Golf balls are suitable for all ages and do not require maintenance or disposal into hazardous waste streams.
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.”
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or off-gassing
Golf balls are solid outdoor products that do not off-gas indoors. No indoor air quality risk is established for stored or used balls at typical ambient conditions.
Heavy metal contamination in synthetic rubber or polymer
Modern synthetic rubber and ionomer used in golf ball manufacturing are not known to contain lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals as intentional additives or significant contaminants in the finished product.
Skin irritation or allergic contact dermatitis
No published cases or complaints link Wilson Ultra Distance balls to contact dermatitis; ionomer and rubber are inert to skin during brief handling.
Microplastic shedding or environmental persistence
All synthetic polymer golf balls will eventually degrade outdoors and shed microplastics, but this is an environmental rather than direct consumer safety hazard. No data exists on the rate or composition of shedding from Wilson balls specifically.
Choking or ingestion hazard (for young children)
Golf balls are a known choking hazard for children under 3 years; standard product labeling and parental awareness suffice to manage this risk category-wide.
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 sports equipment coatings 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.