Table tennis in Charlotte resides at the Hawthorne racket club, located at:
345 Hawthorne Lane, just east of downtown Charlotte
on the corner of 7th Street & Hawthorne Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28202
on the corner of 7th Street & Hawthorne Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28202
Directions:
From the South:
77 to 277 (John Belk)
Exit Caldwell Avenue
Right on 7th Street
Right on Hawthorne
77 to 277 (John Belk)
Exit Caldwell Avenue
Right on 7th Street
Right on Hawthorne
From the North:
77 to 277 (Brookshire)
Exit 11th Street
Right on N Brevard
Left on 7th Street
Right on Hawthorne
77 to 277 (Brookshire)
Exit 11th Street
Right on N Brevard
Left on 7th Street
Right on Hawthorne
Downtown Map:
http://www.charlottechamber.com/clientuploads/Economic_pdfs/Maps/Downtown_Detailed.pdf
Playing Times: Saturday 2-6, Sunday 1-6, Tuesday & Thursday 6:30-10:30.
Playing Times: Saturday 2-6, Sunday 1-6, Tuesday & Thursday 6:30-10:30.
Check the Calendar/Events section / Playing Schedule to make sure League Play
is not in session, limiting Open Play tables for that day.
Cost: $15 per month membership fee ($45 paid per quarter)
or $5 guest fee per visit
Cost: $15 per month membership fee ($45 paid per quarter)
or $5 guest fee per visit
New Players: Please understand our goal is to provide opportunity for advanced
competetive table tennis in Charlotte. While we welcome all to visit the club & participate,
we can not accommodate recreational players who do not intend to become members.
In many cases, new players find themselves overwhelmed by our level of competition.
Some do not return, while others make the effort to understand, learn & improve.
Our members are usually happy to assist in this transitional period, the better you get,
the more competetive you will be for everyone. (& the more fun you will have).
You will be advised to use all the resources to help bring you up to speed: coaching,
robot practice, drilling practices & instructional dvds as well as normal match play.
It is not an uncommon story to hear a player is the best in his neighbourhood, school,
workplace etc, finds our club & can not win a game. Some go back to the neighbourhood,
some stick with it & have become very competetive & valuable members.
Which are you?
- Our friendly members can help with orientation.
- There are 10 new Butterfly blue tables in the main gym as well as 2 side rooms w/tables
- We have 2 table tennis robots for training as well: instructed members only
- Only non skuff shoes allowed / no black soled or bottomed shoes.
- Matches usually consist of a short warm up, followed by a best 3/5 games to 11 each
- Place your racket or ask a player to place your racket at the base of the table to challenge the winner.
- There are designated tables which are always challenge tables, we will explain at orientation.
- Do not challenge more than 1 table, or while you are playing.
- Do not warm up extensively at a challenge table; matches must start within 2 minutes.
- Do not stay on a challenge table for more than 3 consecutive wins.
- Do not enter or pass through a playing area until the point has ended.
- If your ball is in another playing area, ask those players to retrieve it after their point has ended.
- Please observe finish times & end matches when necessary for a timely exit.
- Offer to help set up & put away equipment.
- Respect our equipment. Our new Butterfly tables are expensive & are expected to serve for years.
- The racket should never touch the table; monitor children carefully on & off the table.
Tips:
- The modern game of table tennis differs from recreational ping pong:
- Equipment & techniques are used to generate more spin.
- Understanding spin is key to reading your opponents shots.
- In general the ball will go in the direction of the follow through.
- Balls that are sliced, or chopped imparting underspin or backspin will project down off your racket into your side of the table or net, while balls looped with an upward stroke will produce a high return on your part often missing the opposite side of the table. Adjusting your racket angle to work with the spin instead of fighting it will produce better results.
- Serving and returning serve is crucial in competition.
- A safe, short serve difficult to attack is ideal.
- Learning to return this serve safely is also important.
- Regardless of spin or speed, club level players will usually try to attack any long ball.
- Working on these techniques & strategies will help you become more competitive & reduce the frustration factor when stepping up to a higher level of play.