Paintball Laser Sight

Paintball is a very safe sport in comparison to other sports, in fact you are 19 times more likely to suffer a serious injury playing football than you are playing paintball. Injuries do still happen though playing paintball, which is a shame as the vast majority of them are preventable. In this article I will outline the steps you should take to further reduce the risk of you being injured playing paintball.

The majority of serious paintball injuries involve a paintball hitting a persons eyes, and then behind this are impact injuries often caused by slipping.

So first we will address the issue of eye injuries.

The most effective tip for preventing eye injuries is to wear a decent pair of paintball goggles. It is still surprising how many people wear damaged goggles or glasses made for other purposes such as lab glasses. If you wear this type of eye protection then you are putting yourself at a much higher risk of suffering an eye injury. You can find good paintball goggles on the websites such as Amazon.com for relatively cheap, so it is worth the expense to invest in a decent pair.

Wear Appropriate Footwear – Paintball can be a very physical game, as you are constantly running and dodging opponents shots. Because of this it is important to wear appropriate footwear. A good pair of trainers with a lot of grip is ideal. One thing to bear in mind is that most paintball games are played outside in fields, which can be very slippery if you wear footwear with poor grip. If you are running full speed and fall in a game zone then there is a good chance that you will fall into an object or another player injuring yourself, which is why good footwear is essential.

One of the biggest safety measures you can take is choosing to play at a paintball centre with a good safety record, as they will employ trained marshals specifically to enforce rules to ensure your safety.

Aside from the paintball gun, the paintball mask is the most important piece of kit you will invest in. Although the number of serious injuries in paintball is low compared with other sports, they can be severe. A paintball travelling at 300 feet per second can do a lot of damage, particularly to the sensitive head area. It is essential that you protect your eyes and ears from injury with a good quality mask.

Regular glasses, sun glasses, ski masks, safety goggles and shooting glasses are not sufficient to protect you from fast flying paintballs. You need an appropriate, purpose made paintball mask ,manufactured to strict industry regulations to withstand the speed of a paintball.

Your paintball mask needs to provide adequate protection whilst still feeling comfortable. If your mask is uncomfortable it will be a distraction and will impair your ability to play well. There should be cushioning around the outer edges of the mask to keep it in place and ensure a comfortable fit.

Your mask should fit well. Paintball is an extremely active sport. Your mask needs to fit securely to withstand many different manoeuvres. You will need to be able to run, twist, turn, dive and crawl without dislodging your mask. If you wear glasses, check that your mask will fit over them comfortably.

Another thing to consider when choosing a suitable paintball mask is your field of vision. Whilst safety must come first, You still need to have a wide, clear vision in order to play successfully. You need to have a good peripheral vision to protect you from surprise attacks from the side. You should also be able to see clearly through the gun sight without the mask getting in the way.

Ideally your mask should be anti-fog to avoid steaming up in the heat of battle. Some paintball masks have a film on them to prevent them misting over. Better still are thermal masks. These are layered masks with an air cushion between the layers to keep your vision crystal clear at all times.

Just as it is important to protect and enhance your vision, it is also crucial to protect your ears without impairing your hearing. Your paintball mask should cover the whole head to avoid you being struck on any sensitive spot. Some masks can be customized with ear flaps . Whichever mask you choose, check that you can still hear properly to prevent you being crept up on. You need to be alert and have all your senses sharp to play paintball well.

Paintball packages offer an ideal start up kit for players new to the sport and are ideal if you’re on a budget. All good packages will include a paintball mask. However, It is important not to compromise on the quality of the mask for the convenience and value of the package deal. The mask is an essential piece of equipment and must be selected wisely. If the mask is no good, it is a false economy to go for the package.

Paintball masks come in a variety of colours and styles. As cool as some look, safety must be your first concern. You would be well advised to invest in a top quality mask rather than having to continually replace cheaper versions.