Paintball is slowly gaining ground and raising interest in a lot of people today. Back in the 1980s a couple of friends wanted to simulate the African safari experience of one of their friends and invented a raw version of paintball, where they hunt their opponents rather than animals in the forest.
About 10 million Americans are playing paintball, most of which are male with ages ranging from 18 to 40. It can totally encompass any age bracket. Players are usually divided in teams and in its most basic form, in order to win, you need to shoot or take down all the players of the imposing team. A lot of variations already came out and since it’s a sport with no rigid structure, you and your friends can add your own twist to the game.
The basic equipment of paintball are masks, paintball gun and paintball. Paintball masks are customized for the game and it usually comes with earflaps and would cover the whole of the face. The actual paintball is a soft gel capsule with paint inside which would break easily upon contact. Paintball equipment usually costs somewhere around $100 but if you’re just starting then I would recommend that you rent the equipment first from the paintball field where you will be playing. This will cost less with $10 to $80 per day.
As you get your feel around the game and advance to advanced levels, then you can invest on high tech equipment which would improve your speed, hitting accuracy and agility in playing the game.
If you want to be serious about your paintball game, then it’s high time to do some exercises that are a combination of cardio workout and strength training. Do a combination of these for at least 3 times a week but don’t overdo it and exercise everyday. Let you body rest in between workouts. Cardio workouts can be as simple as jogging or riding a bike. Strength training improves your speed and endurance to last the whole game without getting too tired. Diet is also important; choose fruits and vegetables instead of fatty and sugary food.
As a newbie, you need to know the safety precautions of the game. It is considered as one of the safest sports around but keep in mind we must exercise caution in whatever we do. Always wear proper protective gear while playing paintball. Blind firing is discouraged because you might hit someone or something in close range that can lead to injuries.
The basics of the game are simple. There are variations available but the simplest is to take out every member of the opposing team by hitting them with a paintball. Another popular variation is getting the flag of the opposing team; whoever gets the flag faster is the winner. Lastly, there is a variation called ‘king of the hill’ in which the teams try to capture the base of the opposing team. Whoever holds the base ‘hostage’ the longest wins the game.
Remember, the most important thing in playing paintball is having FUN!
Some paintball addicts are arguing that it is not a game, but a sport in its own right. Being healthy and fit will definitely help you in your game and as well as other sports; paintball definitely has benefits that can help you improve your health and well-being.
It’s already a given that in competing in any kind of sport, eating well and having enough exercise will help. Playing paintball can drain all your energy, so be prepared to endure it. After a game, players are often too tired and may experience body sores. Being more fit will counter these after effects.
The proper paintball exercise can give you equal doses of cardiovascular training, strength training and running workout. Exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes in preparation for your actual paintball exercises. You can mix and match different kinds of exercises in one day, for example you can jog and do cardio workout in one session.
Cardio workouts improve your endurance. After a few weeks of doing continuous cardio exercises, you will start noticing different changes in yourself. You are stronger and don’t tire out that easily as before. Running on the treadmill or riding a stationary bike can improve your strength and endurance also.
If you don’t use the gym, you can jog or ride a bike. When you’re in your home, run up and down the stairs, use exercise videos or tune in to the fitness channel. Mix and match different exercises so you don’t get bored with doing one form of exercise. Just do everything that you can to keep your heart pumping!
Building up your endurance is also important since paintball will keep you up and about while running in different directions. Speed is important but endurance is more important. You want to keep your speed throughout the whole session. Practice both speed running and distance running. Try to run at least 3 miles. Speed running will improve your speed and sprinting abilities which is important in paintball.
Paintball will require you to be fast while lugging around a paintball gun and with all the safety gear. Strength is important in carrying all these extra weight with you. Paintball is not just concerned with running. You also do crawling, diving, sprinting and shooting. Do strength training exercises at least three times a week to keep up with the demands of paintball.
If you want to build up muscles, then you need to concentrate on certain parts of your body to do this. Strengthen your legs because you will be using them 80% of the time in playing paintball. Another area of importance is your back, having strong back muscles will improve your strength.
Paintball also requires strong abdominal muscles. But, you don’t need a six pack to play paintball. To build up abdominal muscles, try to do some squats, leg lifts and lunges. Crunches also strengthen your core.
Diet is also important in playing paintball. Eat healthy. Drink lots of fluids like water and other sports drinks, running around during the game will get you dehydrated so it’s better to stock up on fluids before the game.