Sometimes considered the ultimate “man game”; paintball is a typically a team sport wherein players shoot paintballs at each other and when opposing players are hit they are out of the game. The basic goal of paintball is to remove opposing players from the game and capture the opponent team “flag” which is then return it to the home base of the prevailing team. When such events occur a “Win” is established.
Some of the most asked questions about the sport / game are as follows:
What’s it cost? A day of paintball generally costs about $50.00 in the event that you use a rental type facility that has become quite popular in many areas. This will depend on what rental gear is needed and how many paint balls a player shoots during the day; another major factor is whether or not you are able to use your own equipment during the event.
A Game can last as little as one minute for intense spectator-style “speedball” games, or up to 24 hours of non-stop action for a weekend-long event. The average recreational game in the woods lasts between 15 minutes to an hour. Generally, a game played on a tournament-style field lasts about three to ten minutes
Are Stains a Problem? Simple answer, no. Hits wipe easily off your clothing and skin, and any residue left on your clothes comes out in the wash. Marks left by paintballs also wash off trees and grass after a rain shower and by the way, most paintballs manufactured today are eco-friendly.
Does it hurt? This is often the first question asked by new players. When you get hit by a paintball, it generally “stings” or “smarts” just a little; especially if you’re hit inside of 20 feet and directly on the skin. This may result in a small welt or bruise. The best comparison for what it feels like is perhaps like snapping yourself with a rubber band. Because of this, Paintball is recommended for those individuals of twelve years and older. If this worries you, then we suggest wearing extra protective padding, such as knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, chest protectors, neck protectors, and, of course, approved paintball masks to protect your eyes and face as this is considered mandatory safety gear.
Have you decided yet to make the leap into the extreme sport of paintball? Are you in need of a paintball gun or "marker" as the industry now calls them, although you’re not exactly sure what to look for? It's easy to imagine that a paintball marker works much like any air gun, but that’s not quite the truth. There are a wide variety of types, brands, and most important, technologies involved in paintball today that continue to propel the sport into an ever growing, exhilarating experience. Knowledge is power, and by providing yourself with some paintball expertise, your first acquisition will be one that may provide contentment for a really long time.
Here are a few things about the sport you should know:
Paintball “markers” have three "classes," one of which contains two sub-classes.
The first and most common class of marker is the semi-automatic. As the name indicates, this marker will discharge a paintball every time you pull the trigger.
There are two distinct sub-types of semi-automatics:
Pneumatic markers are also called "mechanical" (sub-type 1) paintball markers, they work very much like a real firearm. Unlike the typical firearm, their power source is a CO2 or compressed air tank that usually screws into the back portion of the marker. You have to load the marker one time, and from that point forward it will fire each time you pull the trigger. This type marker can shoot quite fast: 4 to 9 balls per second (BPS).
Semi-automatic markers of the 2nd sub-type are sometimes called “electro-pneumatic", they derive from technology borrowed from the military and use an onboard computer to operate. This type marker was once considered the gold standard and very expensive, but electronic markers are just as affordable now as (and sometimes even cheaper) than mechanical models. The rate of fire is much faster with these markers and can reach as many as 36 BPS!
Although Semi-automatic / electro-pneumatic markers are just as reliable as mechanical ones, they do need a battery; and in some models the batteries are even rechargeable. Keep in mind as well that the battery must be fully charged or at least very strong because these markers will malfunction when they are low on power. The one big difference between mechanical and electro-pneumatic markers is resilience. Mechanical markers can get wet and even be submerged in water whereas electro-pneumatic markers will short out when submitted to the same conditions. Light rain, however is not a handicap for electro-pneumatic markers.
The second class of paintball markers is called pump action. Pump action markers work very much like a pump action shotgun and must to be cocked each time before you can shoot a paintball. This is great for those of us on a budget or wishing to conserve since with this type marker, expect a lot fewer paintballs to be used. In addition, they are very accurate. You might think that a pump would be less expensive than a semi-automatic, but this is not always the case. Paintball enthusiasts who use a pump action marker are considered purists by the industry and, as a result, the industry typically markets higher-end equipment to them.
The third class of marker is called stock class which is a derivative of the original paintball gun. It should be noted here that the sport of paintball was born from the forestry industry which used “marking guns” (thus the term “marker”) which fired oil-based paintballs to mark trees instead of using spray paint or flagging tape.
Many of us are always looking for a way to stretch the dollar and paintball markers are not exceptions … for those of us who really want to save, I strongly recommend having a “look-see” at the remanufactured or refurbished markers that are offered by several manufactures.
At this point you are either overwhelmed or educated. Here’s to hoping it's more of the latter. Paintball is a fun game / sport that can be enjoyed by persons of all skill levels, including those with no skills at all. You don't have to spend a lot of money to participate, and if you become obsessed by the sport, there are stores out there with products to deliver your requirements.
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