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Paintball Frequently Asked Questions

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by Malcolm, September 9, 2006

What is paintball?

It's a National Sport. It's a Recreational Sport; it's a game anyone can play. Each player has a marker that fires balls of water-soluble paint. If you're shot and marked, you're out of the game and have to wait in a Safe zone until the next game starts. The most common variation is two teams at opposite ends of a field, each with a flag hung at "home base." The object is to go get the other team's flag and some games you even have to bring it back to your base. When you encounter people on the other team, you try to tag them out before they tag you.

Do I need to be physically fit?

Not really, but it will help. It is strenuous exercise on your muscles. I remember after the first real game I played, I couldn't walk several days after because I didn't warm up or stretch. With all the squiring and jumping down behind bunkers, my legs where gone! You should stretch and warm up before playing. Since typical games require quick sprints, having good fitness is very beneficial without a doubt.

Is it safe?

When played properly like all action sports such as football, basket ball, and so on paintball is very safe as long as rules are obeyed and protective equipment worn.

Without following the rules of paintball i.e.: shooting at someone without them wearing a mask on, can be as dangerous and stupid as a hockey player doing jump kicks with skates on rather then checking.

Most paintball markers (all mainstream ones) shoot a 68 caliber paint ball. The paintballs are a thin plastic shell filled with a water soluble paint. Markers shoot the paintballs at a speed of 200 to 300 feet per second.

Safety is highly stressed at most fields. Many fields require goggles be worn at all times unless in designated areas. Many fields also require that barrel plugs (plastic inserts/or coverings that prevent projectiles from leaving the barrel) be used while players are in certain areas such as safe zones. Ignoring safety WILL get you removed from the game. Repeatedly ignoring safety at a field WILL get you banned.

Ok. How can I play safe?

• Do not shoot animals or wildlife.
• Do not fire your marker anywhere except on the field during the game or in the designated chronograph area/shooting range.
• Make sure the velocity of your marker is below 300 feet per second or lower (some fields my want all markers no higher then 280).
• Inspect the lens of your mask for cracks or signs of weakness.
• Make sure your mask is well seated so it does not come off during the game.
• Never remove your mask while on the field.
• Always assume the gun is loaded; even if you know otherwise.
• Insert you barrel plug or barrel condom before entering the safe zone. AND do not take off your mask (if you want to) until you're in the safe zone.
• Unload the marker when not in use.
• When receiving or retrieving a marker check if it's loaded. And test it before a game.
• Know the rules of the game and follow them.
• Never look down the barrel. Not even with protection. If barrel needs checking remove the barrel from the marker and check. If the barrel cannot be removed, disconnect all CO2 equipment, test fire the marker downrange until no more gas is left in the marker.
• Notify the field owner or manager of any medical conditions, allergies etc.

How can I play?

Almost all paintball 'fields' rent guns and welcome new players. Fields can be found using yellow pages look under Sports or Paintball, you can check out our list of stores and fields.

Do I have to be on a team?

You don't have to have an organized team or go to a paintball field in order to play. If you have some paintball markers and paintball masks, and a back yard or some place where you will not have balls hit other people (that are not wearing masks). Grab a few friends and you can play a game together.

Most commercial fields allow walk-on games, where anybody can show up and play. It is best to call and see when a open game is and ask to play in that game, just so the field knows you coming and will have equipment held for you.

What kind of Paintball Field should I play on?

The first few games you play should be on a well organized field. The things to watch for are the number of referees on the field for each game, and the explanation of the rules. The rules of safety and specific rules for the field/game should be clearly stated by a referee before anyone steps foot on the field to play. There should also be a sufficient number of referees for the number of players, one referee can not handle a field with fifty people on it. If these conditions are not met, you should seriously consider waiting for your first day until you find a field better suited to a beginner.

How much does it cost to play?

The average field in Newfoundland will cost approximately $15 to $25+, that should include a marker a mask hopper, and CO2 tank filled. The field fee may be smaller if you provide you own equipment. Paintballs are usually 3 cents up to 12 cents each. You can see the rates of rental fees on the fields websites.

What do I need to bring?

The field owner may not supply food or have facilities where food can be bought so a lunch and snacks is nice to have in case, water is good to have.

Barrel Squeegee because it's fast for cleaning out a broken ball in the heat of battle! The spring loaded rubber disk hinges to one side to glide down the barrel when you push on the other side, then let it spring straight and haull back out to remove paint and broken shell from the back to the front. Now your shots are back on target.

What gun should I get?

Gun? No. the first thing anyone needs to invest in is the mask. You'll need something comfortable, and has a good lens most of all. If you're out on the field and you cant see a thing because your lens is all fogged up how are you going to shoot? You might as well not even have a marker. (They are called markers, not guns.)

Personally I don't have a thermal lens, although a lot of guides and FAQs will tell you to have one "it is a must" sort of thing, I have a duel pane lens, I haven't had it fog up on me. Also you can get anti-fog spray that you can use on your lens, there is also fan attachments you can get (I haven't used the fans but I hear good things)

So, your playing and you got some paint on your mask. You need to clean that, right? No you need to properly clean that. You should have some water and tissue in the safe zone to wash away the paint with the water and wipe the water off with the tissue. If there is dirt in the paint (which most of the time, there is) wither you see it of not, you may starch your lens.

When you're not in a safe zone don't take off your mask! Never take off your mask on the field! If you get tagged out with paint on your lens and you cant see, call for the Ref.

Marker:

As for the maker, buy one that you have researched at pbreview.com, where you can get lots of feedback on all sorts of paintball related stuff. Get the best simi-auto you can afford; you pull the trigger and a ball comes out and it's ready to fire another. I would suggest you take a look at brand names like Piranha, Spyder, and Tippmann for starters. They are commonly used by paintball fields for rentals. A good entry level marker will cost around $200, I would suggest that you don't get anything cheaper, or made of plastic.

You do not want to buy some tournament level marker at first. You are new, you need to learn how entry level markers work. The Tippmann is what I learned how to operate, clean, upgrade on. You should have read through the manual and opened up the marker and cleaned it before you go out and play. Practice shooting, practice loading and practice cleaning. When you get on the field you'll do good.

What should I wear? Do I need a jock?

Cloths? Whatever you want, woodsball, I would suggest camo jacket and pants, or dark coveralls. Speedball I would suggest. anything! What ever your comfortable in and what ever you don't mind getting torn and dirty. You see a number of people that have been playing paintball for some time wearing those jerseys? I would wear one if I was on a team playing speedball, just because I want to represent the team. Other then that personally I don't care for the jerseys. I have played with this one guy wearing just some old normal cloths that could whoop your ass in paintball, its not what you wear that determents who wins.

Jock? Well. depends on how much you love the little fella :-) I don't wear one even though I did get shot in the crotch once (I couldn't walk to fast off the field that time). Its all up to you how much protection you want I guees.

Protection: There is lots out there; gloves, neck protector, knee pads, elbow pads, chest protector, full head covering, there are even shoes made for paintball.

That's a good place to start; footwear. You should wear what is comforable with tration and ankle support. Running here and there, jumping down behind bunkers, lots of gravile and duirt to slip on, youll need traction. Lots of uneven ground and roots and rocks, youll need ankle support.

Gloves: They provide protection that is much appreciated when you get hit on the hand. There are finger less ones and full hand gloves, its all about preference. Try some regular gloves and if you find you like to feel the trigger then get the fingerless gloves.

Head cover: A hat is good to keep paint out of your hair, and provides some protection if you get hit in the head. I once played with a guy that got hit on the forehead and it actually started to bleed a little because there was no protection.

Bring more then you need, you can always leave that hoody in the safe zone if it's too hot and just wear a jackit. But if it gets cold you'll be glad you brought it, rather then not have it and be cold.

Neck protector: Good to have. Now that is a place that a shot hurts- in the throat.

Knee pads: This is also good to have but not necessary, its great if you need to drop down behind a bunker when being shot at, it makes it much easer to stay on your knees if you don't have crap poking in your kneecap.

What about face paint?

No. There is no need for face paint. You got a mask on.

How do I hide?

Motion is often what leads to getting spotted. Keep big trees, rocks, thick brush, etc., between you and the other team. Don't cross large open spaces if you can avoid it, even if that means taking a longer route. Get your team to create a distraction so you can work in closer to the opponents. You can do what's called leap-froging: in which you provide cover for your buddy(s) to get closer, and when they are in place, they provide cover for you to get closer.

How do you use the clock for spotting?

Think about a clock with hands. Directly in front of you is 12 o'clock (your 12). If you stretched out your arms, your left hand would point toward your 9 o'clock and your right hand would point toward your 3 o'clock . Remember that your 12 is not my 12 if I'm at your 9, so call out whether he is at "your 12" or "my 12" to explain where the opponent is located. It is faster for you to tell your team the location in there clock direction.

What happens if you get hit?

If you get hit (paint ball brakes on you) you are to shout out that your "hit" or "out" (say it 2 or 3 times is best) put your marker or hand in the air and get up and walk to the safe zone.

What are you supposed to do if a ball hits you and you don't know if you are out or if the ball broke?

Check yourself. Feel for paint where the ball hit you. Ask a buddy to check you. Call a ref to check you. But check before you continue aggressive play. Take cover or retreat, and get checked before playing on.

Doesn't it hurt when you get hit?

Very little. Its no more pain then someone slap'n your hand ("high five" sort of thing). The stinging pain goes away after a few seconds, but the closer you are to the marker, the higher the velocity of the paintball when it hits you. So more pain may be experienced at close range.

If you do not cover your skin and you get hit there you may have welts from the paintball impacts. But this is paintball, if your playing Woodsball or Speedball field your going to have scrapes and bruises from the fields anyway.

What is friendly fire?

Its one of the biggest pain in the asses of the game. H ave you been shot out of a game by your own teammate? Have you shot your own teammate? That's what is known as "friendly fire". The person who was tagged has to leave the game no matter who put the paint on them.

It's annoying if you have to leave a game because your teammate shot you. When it happens, chill. Go to the Safe Zone and when you're with your team talk about it and find out what happened and talk about how to reduce the chances of it happening again.

The lesson is to know what you are shooting at before you shoot. Look for that armband!

It is part of paintball to shoot at an opponent who is very well concealed, so this all comes down to communication. Spend a lot of time talking with your teammates to teach them what kind of moves you're going to make. That might keep them and you from making friendly fire.

There is something that "Newbies" tend to do more often then experienced players. So when your new on the field and you see someone but cant see there color armband ask (yell), "What color are you?" to ask for the armband color. Opponents who have snuck up on you are likely not to answer, or shoot at you.

Try codes. Players can set up a team code, like "David" to which the answer must be " Bowie " or else you are free to shoot the person who didn't give the right code answer.

What is a scenario game like?

A paintball scenario game has a theme or a plot. This can be a "space" theme, or the plot from a movie, or a scenario based on a real battle.

If you're used to paintball games like capture the flag or defend the fort, a scenario game will be a real change of pace. These games operate on a field where action happens all around the field, at different times. Players usually are assigned roles. Points may be scored for completing a "mission" rather than for eliminating opponents. Overall, scenario games can be a great change of pace. They draw out different skills than the ones needed to play well in a tournament or a walk on game.

What should a new player expect from a tournament?

Adrenaline. Excitement. Fun. And that people on the team will make mistakes. Tournaments raise the level of competition. A team of new players would do well to find a tournament that has a division for new players or rookies that limits the experience level of all the players.

How can my new team get sponsorship?

Look to paintball fields and stores when the team is new and fairly unknown. It also is possible to get sponsorship from local non-paintball businesses, just as players do for their softball or volleyball or bowling teams.

What is expected from a member of a paintball team?

That varies from team to team. Some practice every week or twice a month and expect members to make all practices and meetings. Some run drills in practice.

 

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