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Paintball Beginners Guide

 

What every beginning paintball player needs to know

 

Paintball is not a complex sport, though finding good information can be a little trying at times. Learn what you need to do to get involved with this most exciting extreme sport.

 

Basic Questions
The questions every potential paintball player asks.

 

Who Is Paintball For?
Paintball is for anyone who likes competition, action, strategy and skill.
Answer:
Many people have fond memories running around as children playing tag, capture the flag, or hide and go seek. Most remember these games as only a simple part of childhood and move on to bigger and better things, but some just take up the adult form of tag - paintball. And, just as tag can be played by nearly anyone, paintball is an accessible, affordable activity that can accommodate just about any personality and budget. So, if you have ever wondered if you could play paintball, the answer is an emphatic "YES".

 

Paintball comes in many different forms, ranging from small groups of friends playing in the backyard to thousands of people reenacting the World War II D-Day invasion of Normandy to high speed games played on ESPN. Different variations fit different personalities, but as long as you like competition, movement, strategy and skill, a variation of paintball will fit you just fine.

 

More than just action and adventure, paintball lets you mix and match and create the ideal equipment setup for you. Do you want to blend into the trees and silently eliminate players from a distance? Do you want to shoot 18 paintballs a second and drown opposing teams with overwhelming firepower? Or do you want to flank the opposing team through the trees with a small group of fleet-footed comrades? Different equipment setups can make any of these scenarios possible, and a proper setup can be established for any of these, or countless other, playing styles. With the rise of the Internet, paintball equipment is now more accessible, affordable, and adaptable than ever before, and whether you want to buy the newest, fastest gun or rent a pump from your local paintball field, you can be geared up and on the field in no time.

 

Paintball is also more accessible than ever before. Paintball fields exist in all of the United States and throughout the world. Professional fields, private property, and public land all offer paintball opportunities, and your start in paintball could literally be right around the corner.

 

Whether you want to be a professional paintballer, rent some guns for a family reunion or play one weekend a month, paintball just might be right for you.

 

 

Does It Hurt to Get Hit by a Paintball?
Answer:
Sometimes. While a player will usually feel a slight sting that will quickly fade - similar to a firm flick on the arm - paintballs can also cause welts and bruises depending on the speed of the ball, the distance the ball travels, and where on your body the ball hits. To keep things fun and safe, be sure to keep your gun firing slower than 280 feet per second, and never shoot people from less than 20 feet away.

 

How much a paintball hurts also depends on how much padding or protection you wear. If you are only dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, expect small bruises that will fade in a few days, while a sweatshirt or other thick clothing will usually prevent bruising. Some people will wear protective vests, but I have generally found these to be unnecessary.

 

Paintballs that break (or worse, bounce off and don't break) on bare skin will hurt, but this can be avoided by wearing gloves to protect your hands, backwards baseball caps to cover your neck, and long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect your arms and legs. Your head is already protected by your mask, and a shot to the goggles rarely causes any pain.

 

Most severe bruising occurs from guns that are shooting hot (too fast) or from shooting from too small a distance. If you are concerned about getting bruised, wear multiple layers and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

How Much Does Paintball Cost?
Paintball can cost as much or as little as you are reasonably willing to pay. Similar to many other action sports, it can be relatively inexpensive to begin, but the more involved you become, the more you can expect your costs to rise.
The costs of paintball can be divided into two categories: initial costs and recurring costs. Initial costs are the price of your equipment while recurring costs are costs you'll have to pay each time you play. Alternatively, if you want to avoid initial costs, you always have the option of renting.

 

Get Prepared to Play
Paintball isn't quite as simple to try out as jogging or yoga, but with a few simple items you'll be ready to play.

 

Rules and Variations
The rules are simple - shoot without getting shot. Of course, a little more explanation and a few tips make the game a lot more exciting.

 

Safety
Paintball can be dangerous, but with a few simple precautions, there's really nothing to worry about.

 

 

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