Easthampton’s Zing! maintains success as it reaches sixth yearDate: 12/15/2021 EASTHAMPTON – As we move closer to a post-pandemic world, Zing! Table Tennis continues to be a center for community engagement five and a half years into its existence.
A table tennis center is still fairly unique to the area, and Zing! Owner Noel Abbot does everything in his power to welcome in as many people as possible – even those who may have limited or no experience with the sport.
According to Abbott, the idea of Zing! and his love for table tennis began when he found a passion for racket sports as a child growing up. “As a child, racket sports saved my life,” said Abbott, in an interview with Reminder Publishing. The owner added that he has carried 40 years of coaching and other experience within the sport into the center’s inception.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving night in 2014, and Zing! was officially set in motion after Abbott picked up a paddle for the first time in decades and found a table in his sister-in-law’s basement. The center was born.
“It was a long journey,” said Abbott, who moved down to the valley to officially jumpstart his renewed passion for playing and teaching the sport. Prior to moving to the valley, Abbott worked extensively in strategic planning, executive coaching and training. He was a strategic planner, program leader, and mentor at Kripalu Center, which is a world-renowned yoga and health retreat in Western Mass.
Beyond that, Abbott served as a Select Board chairman in Rowe and worked for WiredWest, an organization that offers high-speed internet to communities in the region that need it. He began selling table tennis tables from Germany in Eastworks in Easthampton, and opened the center at the Keystone Mills Building at 122 Pleasant St. in the summer of 2016.
“It took me about a year-and-a-half [to open], only because I was the second tenant in a huge industrial building that was being renovated,” said Abbott.
The center is about 3,800 square feet and features eight professional tables indoors, according to Abbott. It also contains a lounge that usually hosts events and parties. They also have a pro shop that carries gear for all levels of play from beginner to custom-built paddles, balls, nets, T-shirts and other accessories. People receive professional assistance in the pro shop, as well as the ability to test the gear before buying. Inside the playing area, glare-free LED lights are planted right below a 15-foot ceiling, and the tables are spaced out far enough for efficient room.
The center hosts birthdays, weddings, fundraisers, graduations, reunions, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, and other types of table tennis parties. Zing! offers half or full facility rentals, with options for coaching, skill-building games and mini tournaments. They also provide gift cards of any amount. Outside of Abbott, the center features a small team-with a couple coaches and desk staffers.
Currently, Zing! has seven round robin leagues for people with different levels of experience that meet each week. According to a schedule provided by Abbott, six out of the seven are generally welcome to everyone, and one of them is for the Zing! Advanced League and mainly for skilled competitive players. The fee to enter a round robin is $10, and members play free or at their member rate. Right now, there is not a league for beginners, but Abbott said he is considering adding one. The center also spearheads a women’s night.
Zing! is also looking add sanctioned tournaments in 2022, as well as a Friday Family Night with music and food, and expanding the number of parties offered at Zing!.
“The most important thing about Zing! is it’s not only a place to play table tennis, but it’s a place where people come and are warmly welcome,” said Abbott. “It’s about a lot of things…it’s also about people who have never played before coming in and learning the joys of the sport.”
The center had to close its doors on March 14, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and in June 2020, Abbott began offering limited play outdoors on two tables for another few months before returning indoors to the eight tables.
“I’ve had incredible help in the initial design of Zing! which is arguably the most beautiful Table Tennis Center in the country,” said Abbott. “Great assistance from Zing!’s loyal member base in refining the physical facility and supporting guests who come by if Zing! is not staffed.”
The burgeoning center just hosted its second coaches’ training with a national coach. They also just completed a training for coaches who develop table tennis programs in Holyoke schools through the American Youth Table Tennis Organization. Zing! also hosted the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association coaches training in the summer of 2018.
Abbot said that everyone is welcome, and the center is currently looking for students from ages 8 to 13 who are interested in learning the sport.
“I’m looking forward to expanding Zing!’s already large program offerings, redeveloping the Junior Program which was halted by COVID [-19] and taking a compatible partner(s) to help me operate Zing! and possibly expand its brand to other US cities,” said Abbott, adding that he is also looking to develop a compatible website – which should occur in the coming weeks.
To learn more about what Zing! offers, interested parties can call 203-5942. The center is staffed on Tuesdays through Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is available to members 24/7. While Abbott is developing a new website, people can at least visit zingtt.com to learn about prices.
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