Ping's coloured dots are the most recognised iron-fitting system in golf, and they are not just decoration. Each colour is a specific lie angle. Here is what every dot means and how to find yours.
What the colours actually mean
Lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the sole at impact. Get it wrong and the face will not sit square, so shots leak left or right even when you strike it well. As a rule of thumb, every degree of lie that is off pushes the ball roughly four yards off line. Ping's system codes that adjustment as a coloured dot on the hosel, running from flattest to most upright around a standard Black dot.
| Dot colour | Lie vs standard |
|---|---|
| Gold | 4° flat (flattest) |
| Brown | 3° flat |
| Orange | 2° flat |
| Red | 1° flat |
| Black | Standard |
| Blue | 1° upright |
| Green | 2° upright |
| White | 3° upright |
| Silver | 4° upright |
| Maroon | 5° upright (most upright) |
So a Black-dot 7-iron sits at Ping's standard 62°, a Green dot is 2° more upright at 64°, and a Red dot is 1° flatter. Ping has used this same system since 1972 and still uses it on current irons.
How to find your dot
- You need two measurements: your height, and your wrist-to-floor distance measured with golf shoes on, arms hanging naturally.
- Cross them on the chart. Where your height and wrist-to-floor intersect gives your recommended colour. Taller players and shorter arms trend upright, shorter players and longer arms trend flat.
- Borderline between two colours? Let your miss decide. A fade or slice leans to the more upright dot, a hook or draw leans flatter.
- Buying used Ping irons? Check the dot on the hosel. It tells you how that specific set was built, which may not be standard.
Find your fit against our live stock
Rather than read your dot off a static grid, our fitting tool takes your measurements and matches you to Ping and other irons we currently have in stock, in the right lie where possible.
Why buy from us
Every set is sourced directly from Japan and graded by hand, with the hosel dot and true specs noted on the listing so you know exactly what you are getting. One-of-one stock, honest condition grading, no guesswork.
See what is in now: Iron Sets.
Flat $30 shipping Australia-wide. Free over $600.
Chasing a specific dot or model? Send a sourcing request and we will hunt it down in Japan.
Bottom line
The colour is the lie angle, nothing more mysterious than that. Get your two measurements, find your dot, then confirm with ball flight. Right lie angle is one of the cheapest ways to hit more greens.
Honest prices, quality gear. Simple.