Paintball Basics
So you want to play paintball. If you've never really played before and are starting to become interested in the sport than you are probably wondering a lot about it. Ive played quite a bit. I am into the game and have invested some good time and money into it, with leagues and tournaments etc.
A few commenly asked questions:
What is paintball?
Paintball is a sport where players use markers to shoot small .68 caliber paintballs at their opponents. There are many different game types you can play with paintball such as large scenarios, capture the flag, and just plain old elimination of the opposing team. A player is out when they are hit with a paintball.
Woodsball vs. Speedball?
Speedball and woodsball are the two variations in which you can play paintball. Speedball is usually played on an enclosed field, about the size of maybe 2 basketball courts, with about 20 or so bunkers on the field. These can be anything from inflatable bunkers to tires, or cans. Woodsball is a form of paintball where basically you just play in the woods where nature is the only thing between you and your opponent. Trees, bushes and logs all can be used for cover. Speedball is generally more fast paced with a lot of shooting everywhere, it is the most popular of the two and most high-end guns are designed around speedball. Woodsball is where you can have larger games some with towers, trucks and all other things to make a large war-like scenario.
For the parents:
A lot of parents are very sceptical about paintball mainly because a paintball marker is a gun and it does shoot a projectile. Well all I have to say is paintball is one of the safest sports out there. All professional fields have safety precautions that all players MUST follow. As long as your child plays at the field the refs and employee's will enforce the safety rules and everything will be fine. You have probably heard stories of people shooting cars with their paintball guns. That is not the way a paintball gun should be used. As long as your child uses it for the sport he/she will be fine.
Does it hurt?
I am not going to lie here getting shot with a paintball will hurt to an extent. The first time I played I was worried about getting hurt so I wore a hooded sweatshirt on top of my t-shirt and baggy jeans. When I was hit it wasn't that bad, I had felt the shot but it didn't really hurt until about 10-20 seconds later I felt a slight sting but nothing that bad. Now if you are playing with just a t-shirt sometimes getting hit can hurt. You will feel a sting and usually there will be a welt but the sting goes away very quickly, and for the welts they make good stories! Getting hit with paintball is not really that bad. Usually you are so into the game that when you get hit your are more upset that you are out of the game then actually realizing the slight sting of getting shot. The adrenaline usually washes away the pain, but if you focus on the fear of getting shot and let that affects the way you play then the shot will hurt more. My advice is to just play the game don't worry about getting shot and when it actually happens you will barely realize it.
How much will this sport cost?
That all depends on how far you are willing to get into it. Hardcore tournament players spend hundreds of dollars on paint because they play so much. They also have top of the line guns that can sometimes value over $1000. Casual players will not spend as much. Usually your first gun will range from $100-$200. Casual players tend to keep their first gun for a long time playing only once or twice a month or sometimes even less.
How to start:
The first thing you should do is ask yourself if paintball is something you really want to do. You should go to your local field and play a game or two with rental equipment. I strongly suggest playing with rental equipment before you go out and buy your own, just to get used to the game. Keep in mind paintball can be a very expensive sport if you really want to get into it, especially if you plan on being a tournament player. But forget about that for now and just get used to the game. You can find a paintball field/pro shop near you here http://www.pbreview.com/, just put in your zip code.
OK, you've played a few games and your probably getting excited to buy your own gun. The first thing you should actually get is your mask. No field will allow you to play without a mask. Sure you can rent, but rental masks aren't that great. Usually they fog. Think about getting a reliable mask, maybe a shaded one so on warm days the bright sun wont hinder your vision. It is very difficult to play with a fogged up mask or the sun in your eyes.
Now you want to buy a gun. This question boggles rookies to no end, "What kind of gun should I get?" First you must consider your price range. For your first gun expect to spend $100-$200. There are three guns that are in my opinion the best choices for a beginner. Everything else out there is not really worth it. You may find cheap guns at Wal-Mart or something for under $100 but USUALLY they are not worth it to buy.
Prices vary:
1. Tippmann 98 Custom
http://www.tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=3: This marker is a very good beginners gun mainly because of its durability. Out of the three I mention here this can take the most beating, you can throw this thing off a roof and it will still work. It is not electric and it only comes with a single trigger so don't expect fast firing. Though this gun can be upgraded very easily. You can keep a Tippmann for awhile and upgrade it into a very good gun. Not the best for speedball, great for woodsball though. Price varies usually $130-$150.
2. Spyder Imagine http://www.spyder.tv/section/products/emarkers/markers/imagine.html: This marker is another great beginner marker. It is electric and has a two finger trigger so you can expect faster fireing than the Tippmann. It is a spyder therefore it is EXTREMELY easy to take apart and clean. A good all around gun for speedball and woodsball. This is lighter than the Tippman but not as durable, and they are both usually the same price. Price varies usually $120-$140.
3. Smart Parts Ion
http://www.smartparts.com/Products/Ion.aspx: The Ion by far is the best gun you can get as a beginner. It is electric and you can expect super fast firing. Though the priciest of the three you definitely get what you pay for. It is a great gun for beginners or even intermediate players. Most people usually buy a Spyder or a Tippman as their first and upgrade to an Ion but if you have the extra $60-$70 definitely get the Ion. The only reason I have it as a beginner gun is because it retails at only $200 but compares up to $300 guns. You can also change its color with different body kits.
Now when buying your gun keep in mind your price range because don't forget you have to buy paint, air, a mask, and a hopper if it doesn't come with your gun. The Ion is great for its price. The spyder is like a cheaper version of the Ion, its somewhat fast, good for speedball. The Tippmann is built like a brick, slow fire out of box but very upgradable. I myself don't like Tippmann's to much. Just a personal opinion mainly because I prefer speedball and an electric two finger trigger is nice to have.
Note: The stock barrels on the Tippmann and the Spyder are incredibly inaccurate. I strongly suggest that if you have a Tippmann or a Spyder make the barrel the very first thing that you upgrade. (stock means that a particular part is the part that came with the gun out of the box. Example, the stock barrel is the barrel that comes with the gun out of the box.)
Common safty rules:
Keep a barrel plug on your gun at all times when not playing.
Keep uncocked and on safe mode when not playing.
Masks are ALWAYS on when walking on a playing field.
Do not point your gun at people off the field.
If you are going to use your paintball gun outside of an organized field on private property be sure to follow these rules. They are enforced at organized fields.
What NOT to do while playing paintball:
Don't wipe. Do not wipe the splatter off if you are hit. If you are hit then you are hit wiping the splatter so the ref doesnt see it is cheating and if you are caught you usually will be kicked out.
Do not play without a mask.
Do not fire your gun outside of the playing field.
Do not overshoot anybody. This is when you shoot somebody out and then continue shooting them as they walk off the field. When the ref calls him/her out stop shooting them.
Do not argue with the refs.
What to do while playing paintball:
Always check your air before a game, refill if needed.
Always refill your hopper and pods with paint after a game so you are ready for the next one.
Always walk off the field or to the dead box if you are shot out. DO NOT WIPE.
Always turn the saefty off and cock your gun when entering field to play.
Always turn the saefty on and uncock your gun when leaving the field.
Always wear a mask when playing.
Have fun!
A few commenly asked questions:
What is paintball?
Paintball is a sport where players use markers to shoot small .68 caliber paintballs at their opponents. There are many different game types you can play with paintball such as large scenarios, capture the flag, and just plain old elimination of the opposing team. A player is out when they are hit with a paintball.
Woodsball vs. Speedball?
Speedball and woodsball are the two variations in which you can play paintball. Speedball is usually played on an enclosed field, about the size of maybe 2 basketball courts, with about 20 or so bunkers on the field. These can be anything from inflatable bunkers to tires, or cans. Woodsball is a form of paintball where basically you just play in the woods where nature is the only thing between you and your opponent. Trees, bushes and logs all can be used for cover. Speedball is generally more fast paced with a lot of shooting everywhere, it is the most popular of the two and most high-end guns are designed around speedball. Woodsball is where you can have larger games some with towers, trucks and all other things to make a large war-like scenario.
For the parents:
A lot of parents are very sceptical about paintball mainly because a paintball marker is a gun and it does shoot a projectile. Well all I have to say is paintball is one of the safest sports out there. All professional fields have safety precautions that all players MUST follow. As long as your child plays at the field the refs and employee's will enforce the safety rules and everything will be fine. You have probably heard stories of people shooting cars with their paintball guns. That is not the way a paintball gun should be used. As long as your child uses it for the sport he/she will be fine.
Does it hurt?
I am not going to lie here getting shot with a paintball will hurt to an extent. The first time I played I was worried about getting hurt so I wore a hooded sweatshirt on top of my t-shirt and baggy jeans. When I was hit it wasn't that bad, I had felt the shot but it didn't really hurt until about 10-20 seconds later I felt a slight sting but nothing that bad. Now if you are playing with just a t-shirt sometimes getting hit can hurt. You will feel a sting and usually there will be a welt but the sting goes away very quickly, and for the welts they make good stories! Getting hit with paintball is not really that bad. Usually you are so into the game that when you get hit your are more upset that you are out of the game then actually realizing the slight sting of getting shot. The adrenaline usually washes away the pain, but if you focus on the fear of getting shot and let that affects the way you play then the shot will hurt more. My advice is to just play the game don't worry about getting shot and when it actually happens you will barely realize it.
How much will this sport cost?
That all depends on how far you are willing to get into it. Hardcore tournament players spend hundreds of dollars on paint because they play so much. They also have top of the line guns that can sometimes value over $1000. Casual players will not spend as much. Usually your first gun will range from $100-$200. Casual players tend to keep their first gun for a long time playing only once or twice a month or sometimes even less.
How to start:
The first thing you should do is ask yourself if paintball is something you really want to do. You should go to your local field and play a game or two with rental equipment. I strongly suggest playing with rental equipment before you go out and buy your own, just to get used to the game. Keep in mind paintball can be a very expensive sport if you really want to get into it, especially if you plan on being a tournament player. But forget about that for now and just get used to the game. You can find a paintball field/pro shop near you here http://www.pbreview.com/, just put in your zip code.
OK, you've played a few games and your probably getting excited to buy your own gun. The first thing you should actually get is your mask. No field will allow you to play without a mask. Sure you can rent, but rental masks aren't that great. Usually they fog. Think about getting a reliable mask, maybe a shaded one so on warm days the bright sun wont hinder your vision. It is very difficult to play with a fogged up mask or the sun in your eyes.
Now you want to buy a gun. This question boggles rookies to no end, "What kind of gun should I get?" First you must consider your price range. For your first gun expect to spend $100-$200. There are three guns that are in my opinion the best choices for a beginner. Everything else out there is not really worth it. You may find cheap guns at Wal-Mart or something for under $100 but USUALLY they are not worth it to buy.
Prices vary:
1. Tippmann 98 Custom
http://www.tippmann.com/product_guide/markerDetails.aspx?categoryid=3: This marker is a very good beginners gun mainly because of its durability. Out of the three I mention here this can take the most beating, you can throw this thing off a roof and it will still work. It is not electric and it only comes with a single trigger so don't expect fast firing. Though this gun can be upgraded very easily. You can keep a Tippmann for awhile and upgrade it into a very good gun. Not the best for speedball, great for woodsball though. Price varies usually $130-$150.
2. Spyder Imagine http://www.spyder.tv/section/products/emarkers/markers/imagine.html: This marker is another great beginner marker. It is electric and has a two finger trigger so you can expect faster fireing than the Tippmann. It is a spyder therefore it is EXTREMELY easy to take apart and clean. A good all around gun for speedball and woodsball. This is lighter than the Tippman but not as durable, and they are both usually the same price. Price varies usually $120-$140.
3. Smart Parts Ion
http://www.smartparts.com/Products/Ion.aspx: The Ion by far is the best gun you can get as a beginner. It is electric and you can expect super fast firing. Though the priciest of the three you definitely get what you pay for. It is a great gun for beginners or even intermediate players. Most people usually buy a Spyder or a Tippman as their first and upgrade to an Ion but if you have the extra $60-$70 definitely get the Ion. The only reason I have it as a beginner gun is because it retails at only $200 but compares up to $300 guns. You can also change its color with different body kits.
Now when buying your gun keep in mind your price range because don't forget you have to buy paint, air, a mask, and a hopper if it doesn't come with your gun. The Ion is great for its price. The spyder is like a cheaper version of the Ion, its somewhat fast, good for speedball. The Tippmann is built like a brick, slow fire out of box but very upgradable. I myself don't like Tippmann's to much. Just a personal opinion mainly because I prefer speedball and an electric two finger trigger is nice to have.
Note: The stock barrels on the Tippmann and the Spyder are incredibly inaccurate. I strongly suggest that if you have a Tippmann or a Spyder make the barrel the very first thing that you upgrade. (stock means that a particular part is the part that came with the gun out of the box. Example, the stock barrel is the barrel that comes with the gun out of the box.)
Common safty rules:
Keep a barrel plug on your gun at all times when not playing.
Keep uncocked and on safe mode when not playing.
Masks are ALWAYS on when walking on a playing field.
Do not point your gun at people off the field.
If you are going to use your paintball gun outside of an organized field on private property be sure to follow these rules. They are enforced at organized fields.
What NOT to do while playing paintball:
Don't wipe. Do not wipe the splatter off if you are hit. If you are hit then you are hit wiping the splatter so the ref doesnt see it is cheating and if you are caught you usually will be kicked out.
Do not play without a mask.
Do not fire your gun outside of the playing field.
Do not overshoot anybody. This is when you shoot somebody out and then continue shooting them as they walk off the field. When the ref calls him/her out stop shooting them.
Do not argue with the refs.
What to do while playing paintball:
Always check your air before a game, refill if needed.
Always refill your hopper and pods with paint after a game so you are ready for the next one.
Always walk off the field or to the dead box if you are shot out. DO NOT WIPE.
Always turn the saefty off and cock your gun when entering field to play.
Always turn the saefty on and uncock your gun when leaving the field.
Always wear a mask when playing.
Have fun!
Great
Posted by
tone |
7:47 AM