For many, table tennis is just a hobby — a fun way to pass the time. But for some, it’s a way of life.
Flint Lane falls into the latter category. His love for ping pong was always there, but it took a major turn more than a decade ago.
"I've been a lifelong table tennis fan," Lane said. "I've been playing the game since I was a young boy, but I really got hooked on the sport when I turned 45, my wife surprised me with a birthday present — a table tennis lesson from an Olympian in my hometown. I thought I was good … but I learned very quickly that I was not."
That realization fueled his drive to become a better competitor. And eventually, it led him to open his own table tennis club.
Bringing World-Class Table Tennis to Naples
Although the U.S. has about 150 table tennis clubs, Naples had none. Lane saw an opportunity and decided to change that.
"I figured, why not me?" he says.
And with that, Naples Pong was born.
Since opening, the club has quickly earned a reputation as a premier training ground, even attracting Olympic-level athletes.
"I've been lucky enough to play in many clubs around the world," said Jack Hunter-Spivey, a Paralympic bronze medalist from the UK. "And this one is really up there with some of the best."
Training Champions
One of Naples Pong’s biggest success stories is Jenson Van Emburgh, a Naples-born Paralympian who took home a bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
"I moved here for the club," Van Emburgh says. "I trained with head pro Jeff Yamada for a month before a tournament. I played that tournament, I won that tournament. And I realized, OK, this is very good training."
Hunter-Spivey echoes that sentiment, emphasizing the club’s inclusive and high-level environment.
"I'm able to train alongside able-bodied players. The rules are the same, the equipment is the same. Table tennis is so accessible for everyone."
Expanding the Sport Beyond Naples
Lane’s passion for growing the sport didn’t stop at Naples Pong. In 2023, he founded Major League Table Tennis (MLTT), a professional league designed to elevate the game’s profile in the U.S.
"We have eight teams across the country, athletes from 30 nations, including 25 Olympians," Lane says. "And now, we even have a national television deal."
Table Tennis for Everyone
Despite its elite training environment, Naples Pong isn’t just for pros. Lane wants people of all ages and skill levels to feel welcome.
"Table tennis is really for anybody. It doesn’t matter your age or disability," Van Emburgh says.
Lane agrees. "We are welcoming to players of all skill levels. Right. So we have beginners that come in that don't know how to hold the paddle. Great. Welcome to them. We have intermediate players who just show up and want to bang the ball around. We have advanced players who want training, who want to get better. So whether you’re 80 years old and just starting out or a 16-year-old phenom, there are opportunities to play with people at your skill level here at Naples Pong."
From Olympic champions to casual enthusiasts, Naples Pong has built a community where everyone can experience the thrill of table tennis — one rally at a time.