The face mask is the most significant protective gear in playing the sport of paintball. It mainly shields the eyes from balls with a traveling speed of up to three hundred “feet per second”. Most completely cover the face and the ears, but there are those who prefer to wear goggles, protecting only the eyes. Paintball masks are designed to absorb any direct shot, from any distance or range. An ordinary pair of goggles will supply only a false sense of security and put one at great risk since it they are not constructed to block a paintball. All paintball mask manufactures measure up to DOT safety criteria and safety standards. The choice of the mask’s material is of significance. There are masks made of different material from rubber, plastic to foam. It is a wise idea to buy your own face mask rather then renting one. It should be the first equipment purchased before playing paintball. Be sure to properly test the fit of the mask to your face and make sure that you can see clearly so you can well and enjoy your game. The lens is the mask’s most significant quality, so check it carefully; then examine the foam and see if it is comfortable to wear and the design is attractive 1. Typically, paintball masks will have either non-thermal or thermal lens or be anti-fog for fog resistance: these do not need an anti for agent applied to the lens to perform their function. These thermal lenses will cost more but they are a good choice because they just won’t fog up. 2. The foam in a paint ball mask is an important factor to consider, as it can determine your level of comfort. For instance, a “Vforce Armor” is a neoprene type of foam – a type of foam that is considered a good foam, but it is uncomfortable. The “Vforce Shield” and “Vforce Profiler” is and open cell and two layer foam which is very comfortable to wear. The open cell foam can be compared to a memory foam that is used in pillows. 3. Style is another factor. There are masks that are more expensive even when the foam and lens are the same quality as cheaper models, but the difference is in the style of the mask. Choose wisely and never sacrifice cost over quality; your safety should always come first!
You may have the most expensive and most powerful paintball gun but you must realize that there’s more to the game than just fire power.
Paintball is among the top sports that bring solidarity and sportsmanship in different competitions worldwide. It is also ranked as among the most popular and the most motivating games for sports enthusiasts.
The game pumps adrenaline into your blood stream and makes you excited to make the hits and win the tournament. Below are some tips which can make your game better:
Be Optimistic- Paintball games are battles which at the end have victors and losers. You win the game and that’s excellent but you cannot win them all. There will be instances when you have to look at the game from the losing end. Accept the defeat and look back at the things that you and your team can improve on. You will always have another chance to score those wins.
Value Experience – like any other sport, paintball teaches you a lot. In terms of strategies, equipment, team work. Treat each game as a learning experience, making improvement as one of your top goals
Not for Solo- paintball is a team game. Battles are won when a team plays as a team. It will be great if you can cover for other players and in turn they will cover for you when you make your move.
Fight and do not hide- Hiding will help you survive but it will not contribute to conquering your opponents. If you hide you take out the excitement of dodging enemy fire and firing in return.
Don’t Surrender- at one point of the game, the odds may not be in your favor but do not ever think of surrendering to save yourself from being shot. Think of the ultimate goal. Think that it is still not impossible to turn things around.
When playing the game one must understand that it is not about how long you will stay alive in the field, it is the kind of game that you bring into the battle for your team.
Paintball as a Team Game
No guts, no glory. It takes more than the determination of every individual to win games. You must remember that the team must work like a well oiled war machine to win battles.
It takes practice to make maneuvers effective for the team. Through practice you will be able to lessen casualties and be more efficient with your attack. Here are some steps on how to be successful on the field:
Discuss – No team goes to a battlefield without tackling the basic issues that they will confront. Talk about the mission, the objectives, and plan how you will accomplish the win.
Dry-run- It will be very helpful if there will be dry-runs of combat maneuvers so everyone will know what to do in the field. It doesn’t have to be on the battle field but it can be on your backyard or any space which can accommodate the team.
Half Speed Training- practice your strategies and tactics using soda cans as paintball targets. Think of the soda cans as possible positions of the opposing team.
Full Speed Training- feel the terrain and move as if you are really in the battle field. It is advisable to do a practice run in the woods if the game rules permit.
Attitude and practice will make the team very efficient on the field. Knowing that you performed your best, win or lose, is what counts at the end of the game.
There are various types of paintball fields that offer a challenge and excitement to players. Paintball fields add to the overall enjoyment of the sport. Woods “Woodsball” as it is referred to by a lot of paintball players is the “purest” type of setting where paintball is played. On this type of field, players get the feel of the real war game. Basically, the field is a secluded area in the woods which has an open area. Players “hare”, learn stealth or how to advance the field in a very sneaky manner. Concept Fields The concept field is often created outdoors, with many objects that have been set up for players to take refuge in or seek protection from. Usually concept fields have a theme, the most common of which is the urban city setting with cars, buildings and many other city elements. There are some fields that are very creative with their themes, such as medieval themes with castles which have towers, wagons and cutouts of people. Concept fields are interesting and fun: players are able to adjust the skill level of the group by removing or adding obstacles. Speedball Fields According to paintball fanatics the most exciting and challenging of all fields are the speedball fields. They are made up of equally spaced and equally sized barriers. The challenge here is that a player can not see past the huge barriers and can bump into or encounter anyone at any time. With the smaller barriers a player can be concealed one way, yet revealed to another player. Indoor Fields These fields offer a much different approach and encounter from an outdoor field. The first and major thing that new players encounter is that here paintball guns are very loud: some find that the sound hurts their ears so they wear earplugs; but this is not necessary most of the time. Indoor fields are generally found in cities where there is a lack of open areas to play the game. Similar to outdoor fields, indoor arenas also offer a variety of themes and set ups. The range is considered to be the major difference. A team with great team effort is the key to the game of paintball regardless of where you play – the basic paintball idea remains the same. The option is up to you: select a field that fits your interests and your performance level the best. Paintball fields are as diverse as one’s imagination.
You may have the speed, the right strategies, and a well organized team but you need more than that when you go into a paintball battle field. You need fire power. You need the best paintball gun that you can get your hands on.
If you are aiming to win you have to examine the paintball guns closely when you purchase them.
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a paintball gun is its firing system, you can choose from an electro-pneumatic, mechanical, or gas powered firing system. Here’s how we differentiate these firing systems:
Electro-pneumatic
This firing system depends on an onboard battery which provides the electrical power which moves gears inside the paintball gun that will cock and fire the piston. This piston makes the blast that sends a paintball into the air towards its target.
The electropneumatic paintball guns are capable of multiple shots. You can choose from 3-shot bursts, or 6-shot bursts, or you can go fully automatic when going for an ambush or a chase.
The paintball guns under this class can rapidly shoot 300-900 paintball rounds per minute. They also do not just boast of the rapid fire power but also of velocities ranging from 200 to 400 feet per second which definitely can send someone squirming if hit by a single shot.
Mechanical Power
The mechanical firing system is also referred to as the spring type. Most of the guns under this class are single shot paintball guns. Most paintball gun users use a gun with a blowback system when using a spring powered gun. A blowback system uses the excess air to cock the gun for the next shot.
Fire power is not the name of the game for the mechanical or spring firing system since it is a notch lower compared to the electro-pneumatic. It fires with a velocity ranging from 200 to 275 feet per second. Not that great but it will still hurt.
Gas Powered
Paintball guns under this class use pressurized gases like propane or refrigerants like HFC134a to shoot paintballs.
Most of the gas powered paintball guns can be set to fire on automatic or semi-automatic mode since they also make use of a blowback system. The excess air which triggers the system is also used to re-cock the slide the fires the paintball.
Choosing the Right Gun
Now that you know about the firing systems that can eject paintballs in speeds that you can not imagine possible, you also have to consider the different sizes, configurations, designs, styles, and the cost.
You have to consider how you will move around the field when you carry a gun. You also have to consider the type of game that you usually engage in.
As a paintball enthusiast you can choose from pistols to semi-automatics and fully automatics. Pistols are usually used as a back-up gun when something goes wrong with your main weapon. You can opt for long paintball firearms that you can switch from automatic to semi-automatic as your main weapon. These guns will serve you good for running assaults and attacking your opponents’ home base.
Buying a gun also depends on the budget that you can spend. You can get a gun for as low as $100 but can also find the best of the best at around $1000 minimum.
Knowing that you have the right gun fire power somehow boosts your confidence in the field. It also makes winning a lot easier and sweeter.