Tips on How to Play the Paintball Sport

Playing paintball is so much fun. The main goal of the game is to capture the opponent’s flag and make them surrender by aggressively attacking their defenses. What excites many people is the fast pace and action-packed scenery that a person will experience.  

Most paintball games are played in a place where players can move freely. Outdoor venues like fields or improvised camps provide complete facilities for everyone who wants to experience this sport. There are also indoor venues that are available during various seasons when people are unable to go outside because of the cold weather or rainy seasons.

A person is provided with a paintball gun that is primarily air pressured. The group is generally composed of ten or more persons divided into two teams. Each team must have an equal number of persons and they will battle like two opposing armed groups on a battlefield. 

Each group will be provided colored armbands to mark each member so that their teammates are and opponents are not confused. The main goal is to reach the opponents’ flag and hit every opponent – when doing so - using their paintball guns. The team that captures the flag will bring it to their base to ensure they have won the game. 

A person will know that he is eliminated when he is hit by the paintball. It is determined by the splat of a paintball that will break and mark the gear. A referee will determine if he may continue or to be eliminated from the game. The paintballs are about the size of marbles; but they are spherical in shape with hard shell layers that enables the paintball to go a long distance and speed up the launch when fired at the target. 

Paintball guns appear similar to a real gun but it has a barrel container that stores and launch the paintball. It has a trigger that will activate the release and a reservoir that will store more paintballs. The propulsion is powered by pressurized gas. 

The execution will depend on the style the player thinks will be effective for defense. 

The thrill and excitement is what really makes people love this sport. Others consider it an activity that can be enjoyed with their friends and families. It will give a person a worthwhile experience with the adventure-like setting and the excitement of the game.  

Paintball defense system is a good strategy to win the game

A team may apply various defensive strategies during the course of a paintball game. When it comes to the game of paintball, members of the team must be oriented with good defensive tactics to protect themselves from being hit as well as protecting their flags from the opponent’s aggressive attacks.

Although there could be some instances when the team is more cautious in protecting their flag and becomes more tentative to attacking aggressively may become a problem if the other team advances nearer to the base. A good defensive stand may just be enough to save them from losing the game. Here are some strategic defense systems that a team may apply to win a paintball game.

1. It is important for a person to cover himself safely from attackers firing paintballs from every direction. It is important that a person be good in concealing himself from possible close range attackers. 

2. Look for concealment first, before finding a safe place where a person can hide. The best attack to execute is by catching the opponent by surprise. The attacker may think that he is firing on anything that he thinks would be a threat to his possible elimination. 

3. As a team, the leader should assign each member a different position. They must not be grouped in the same position as that cause multiple elimination since the members could be attacked in a single round of fire without any effort from the opponents: that would be an easy way for them to win the game. 

4. He must exert an effort to act as a back up for his other teammates. They must be within sight all the times so that they may ask for a counter attack if they are surprised with a firefight. 

5. He should know how to control his firepower. Concentrate on a specific target so that no effort is wasted. It is not advisable to be firing at a sure target unless a teammate asks for a cover from his launches.

When it comes to this sport, a good offensive attack is supported by a strong defensive tactic. When a person aims and hits a target, it actually means that he is playing with good defense because he is aware of the positioning and movements of his opponents. When he hits and eliminates a target that will advance him to the next flank for more possible targets. This is one good method for the team to win the game with a good defense system and a strategic offensive attack. 

Finding a New Way to Workout? Try Paintball!

There are a growing number of paintball players in the America alone; the number has increased to more than 10 million according to a recent survey taken by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 2005. The National Xball League was developed in 2003 and many people became interested. The interest spread to other countries when the NXL celebrity games were televised.

Doctors began noticing the game too and started studying its effects on a person’s health.  Dr. Brian Jacobs, a sports medicine expert from South Bend, Indiana commented in an interview that paintball is a source of cardiovascular exercise and is really good for the heart.  He tried to play the game twice and observe how injuries were acquired and the trauma it could cause to a paintball player.  Codes were developed to categorize the injuries caused by the paintball game such as: E922.5 which is an accidental injury caused by a paintball gun; E985.7, a paintball gun injury which was inflicted on purpose or by accident; and E955.7, is a self-inflicted paintball gun injury.

Regardless of the previous observations, the paintball game provides aerobic benefits and creates a workout option for people who are not always physically active. Some doctors advise patients to try the basics of the game because of its health effects.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine rules, the paintball game provides substantial benefits to the body.  This observation was based on a study that was conducted by Tara Kammel, a fitness expert from Maplewood, Minnesota, who attached heart monitors to fifteen paintball players.  During the paintball game, players reached the maximum level of adrenaline as the heart rate surged up to 69 - 74 per cent and a CO2max level of 57 to 65 per cent.

It might at times be dangerous to play paintball, but if the players follow their physicians’ advice then everyone can enjoy the game.

Play the game where there are safety rules to follow and first aid is available.

Do not play without protective gear for the eyes and neck. Wear loose fitting clothes for flexibility. Get in shape with exercise and eat a balanced diet when preparing to play the game.  

If the game is played for sport, it is a sure way of keeping physically active.  It does not only contribute to the physical well being but to a player’s emotional and intellectual abilities as well.  One recent finding by American researchers says that paintball decreased violence since it is a way to release tension.  Hey workaholics! There’s a new sport in town.

Paintball Accessories You Can’t Play Without

Having the markers, tanks, guns, vests and other equipment complete the excitement when you plan to play paintball.  But little do others know that it is the small and simple things that count even before the game begins.  Sometimes the little accessories that are locked in a toolbox are all that are needed to complete a paintball game.  A toolbox is the first aid kit of the game; if anything goes wrong that is unexpected or unavoidable, there is no reason to fret.

The gun’s manual: there are instances in the game when the gun has to undergo  “intensive surgery”.  Guns differ from each other regardless of the physical similarities of some.  If that time comes when it needs to be disassembled, the manual can make it easier to put it all back together.  Try to find manuals with problem solving ideas, they really help.

Reserve batteries:  some guns require batteries to function.  It would be such a waste of time if in the middle of the game the batteries died and you could not continue to play so keep new batteries available.  

Allen wrench to the rescue:  some players have either inherited their guns from their friends or bought second-hand guns.  If you did not get a set of Allen wrenches when you bought the gun buy a set from a hardware store and be sure to keep them handy.

Oil ole’!  Make sure that there is a small can of oil for the paintball gun inside the box as well.  Sometimes weather dictates if the gun needs oiling; be sure to get the specific oil type recommended by the manual for the gun.

Mask lens as spare:  when worse comes to worst, mask lens’ will either become blurry or scratched.  Don’t hesitate to replace them if your vision is impaired as this really affects how the game is played.

Squeegee anyone?  Carrying one on the field is enough during a game, so why not bring a replacement if anything goes wrong?  It saves time for playing rather than looking for a squeegee.

Cupseals and reserved O-rings:  some players do not know that O-rings and cup seals can be damaged easily and this will hurt the paintball gun big time so it is a must to replace the cupseal before this happens.

And for the player, always have a neck guard around to save the neck from those disturbing shots that hit your neck.  There may be a team available to do first aid when something goes wrong but it would make sense to carry a personal first aid kit.  Carry around spare basic safety “gadgets” like a mask, gloves, and pads and have a worry free paintball game.

Make use of paintball squads to win the game!

Paintball is a rough sport but it is not always a physical game; more often, it is a mind game. While physical fitness and strength matters, a good strategy will also make or break your game.

One of the most effective ways of playing paintball is to make use of squads; achieve this by dividing the paintball players into squads.  A squad is a group playing to achieve a common objective and preferably made up of not more than six members.  It is best if the squad members are disciplined and are quick in their physical movements.  If possible, each squad member should be briefed on the team's specific objective and must be advised how each member can help achieve this goal.

Each squad member must realize that their movements are important to the team.   Slow movement can be an asset when the enemy is near.  Learning how to hide is also important to avoid getting hit by paintballs. However, what is more important about learning how to hide is that by doing it, the chances that you will be seen or fired upon by the enemy is diminished.  A relative distance of at least five yards between squad members will make it more difficult for the enemy to see you. 

One of the most important traits in playing paintball is patience.  Members of the paintball squad must not only use their physical agility to win the game, but more importantly their minds to make use of strategies that will help them win over their opponents.  They must also learn to coordinate with each member to avoid being detected by their enemies.  The team must be informed that it is best for the squad to fire as a group, making sure that each member is in the right position before firing.

Squad members should support the other members who are being fired at by firing back; especially when they are in a better and more strategic position to do so.

  

The most important thing is that the squad knows that they are playing for the team and that coordination and team work will be a deciding factor in winning the game. Remember, more heads, rather guns that are firing as one, are better - especially in paintball.

Whatever you do, play as a team and you will certainly have the advantage over your enemies.