The black dot represents typical lying, which are neither upright nor flat and are intended to accommodate players of average stature. Golf stores that sell Ping clubs include a chart that identifies the codes and shows the appropriate color for various body proportions. The chart may also be found on the Ping website. Black dots were originally used on clubheads to indicate made or custom-made clubs. Today, they are often used on otherwise-standardized factory models to identify those clubs built to fit a particular person's swing speed and power requirements. Factors such as personal style, skill level, course conditions, etc. will determine what type of black dot is best for you. For example, someone who hits long drives would benefit from a more open black dot, while someone who gets most of his or her distance off of shorter shots would do better with a less open version. It is important to note that although black dots are an indication of quality and customization, they do not necessarily make for a better golf club. What's important is not just the fact that there is some form of customization but what kind of customization. A manufacturer can mark up their products by hundreds of dollars and use these markings as a way of differentiating one model from another. However, this doesn't mean that one model is better than another; it's simply a matter of preference and budget.