Official Paintball Site

War games have been around for a long time. These are used to prepare an army for battle or the beginning of a surprise attack. Since people are not able to use real guns in this game, Bob Gurnsey, Hayes Noel, Charles Gaines and nine others decided to play this game by using markers that were originally used to tag cattle and trees. This game originated in 1981. Later on, markers were used to shoot paintballs at other players. The bullets used for each shot is a .68 caliber gelatin capsule which comes in various colors so that one team can distinguish the shots they fire from those of the opposition. Anyone that gets hit is out of the game. Paintball has evolved and through the years and can be played in different ways. In one version of the game teams can one flag each and the other team must capture that flag in order to win. Another game has the same objective as the first will except there is only one flag that is situated in the center of the field and each team tries to be the first to capture the flag. The other way of winning (other than capturing the flag) would be to eliminate all of the players of the opposing team with paintball hits. The game can be played on a small scale which is called recreational paintball. This is the original way it was played in a wooded area and can be played in an area the size of a basketball court. If there are many people who want to play and the field is a large area the game is called a scenario. The largest scenario ever was in 2005 on a 700 acre parcel of land and with 3,000 participants. When a player who participates in a competition sanctioned by a governing body, that competition is called a tournament. Teams can be comprised of 3 to 10 players each. Rules during such events vary so people should check before entering the tournament. For the safety of those who participate in these events, protective gear is required for each player. It consists of a helmet, chest pad, gloves, and knee and elbow pads. The guns used are only allowed to fire a maximum of 300 feet per second. Paintball is one game that is gaining ground in the sports world. According to a study done in 2005, it is ranked as the third most popular extreme game in the world. It is considered a safe sport as long as proper equipment is used and people comply with the rules. People who are interested can sign up at the local club and join in the fun.

It is a competitive game wherein you get to shoot other people and get shot at. More like playing war games in your early childhood without the use of a real gun. Paintball is more like a sport that uses compressed air guns (which is called “markers”) that shoots “paintballs”. The bullets are marble sized gelatin capsules that are filled with colored polyethylene glycol paint, hence, the name paintball. The game is usually played outdoors but sometimes indoors (depends on the objective of the game). History of Paintball Markers or paintball guns were used in the earlier times by the farming and forestry industries to mark cattle and trees. Early paintball guns are very similar to the paintball guns of today. Early markers are powered by carbon dioxide cartridges but they had poor range and run of the mill accuracy. The first name to this sort of sport was “The National Survival Game”. The nature of paintball was first played “every man for himself” and it was sometimes played as teams who play each other. The game became more sophisticated because more individuals were playing. A lot of playing variations came up. The most widely played variation is the “capture the flag”. Variations of Paintball Games Capture the Flag Capture the flag is like the classic schoolyard game with the use of a paintball gun. Opposing teams make an attempt to capture or acquire the opponent’s flag at the same time protecting their own flag. The team who gets to hang the opposing team’s flag in a designated location (sometimes at their own base camp) gets to achieve victory. Eliminating all the opposing team’s player also means victory. Center Flag Center flag is played similarly to “capture the flag”; however the game begins with a single flag instead of one on each team. The team who brings the flag to the opponent’s base is declared the winner. Elimination The team that eliminates all of the opposing team’s players wins. Resurrection Just like “Elimination” but the players who were hit can enter the game as a live player by returning to the team’s base camp. Just Plain Crazy “Just plain crazy” can either be played as a team or individually. The game begins with the players opening on opposing sides and congregates in the middle of the field. The objective of this game variation is to be “the last man standing”. Players in this kind of game do not get eliminated; however players get to run-out of carbon dioxide supply, paintballs, or most of the time, because of pain. Being hit by a paintball isn’t a pleasurable. This is the most seldom played game variation due to its violent nature.

Paintball is a rough sport but it is not always a physical game; more often, it is a mind game. While physical fitness and strength matters, a good strategy will also make or break your game. One of the most effective ways of playing paintball is to make use of squads; achieve this by dividing the paintball players into squads. A squad is a group playing to achieve a common objective and preferably made up of not more than six members. It is best if the squad members are disciplined and are quick in their physical movements. If possible, each squad member should be briefed on the team’s specific objective and must be advised how each member can help achieve this goal. Each squad member must realize that their movements are important to the team. Slow movement can be an asset when the enemy is near. Learning how to hide is also important to avoid getting hit by paintballs. However, what is more important about learning how to hide is that by doing it, the chances that you will be seen or fired upon by the enemy is diminished. A relative distance of at least five yards between squad members will make it more difficult for the enemy to see you. One of the most important traits in playing paintball is patience. Members of the paintball squad must not only use their physical agility to win the game, but more importantly their minds to make use of strategies that will help them win over their opponents. They must also learn to coordinate with each member to avoid being detected by their enemies. The team must be informed that it is best for the squad to fire as a group, making sure that each member is in the right position before firing. Squad members should support the other members who are being fired at by firing back; especially when they are in a better and more strategic position to do so. The most important thing is that the squad knows that they are playing for the team and that coordination and team work will be a deciding factor in winning the game. Remember, more heads, rather guns that are firing as one, are better – especially in paintball. Whatever you do, play as a team and you will certainly have the advantage over your enemies.

The best offense is having a good defense. This kind of thinking is usually deployed in sports such as basketball or soccer where the team does its best to prevent the other team from scoring especially in a championship match. A team can also use the same tactics in the game of paintball by preventing the opposing force from capturing the flag. Games start with both sides having limited ammunition. Since the game can last for a very long time, the team should make every shot count. The players should only fire when there is a clear shot rather than not being able to fire when it matters the most. Spreading out over a certain area is a good defensive tactic. This is to cover the enemy no matter which direction he may come from. Should the opposing team see one of your team members, the others who have a better view should neutralize the opponent. If in the opening minutes of the game, the team has lost half of its members, the best strategy is to fall back to the base and regroup. A perimeter should be set up to prevent the other team from outflanking the group while patrols can be sent out to search for the enemy. If a scout has spotted the enemy, the person can take the opponent out. Should there be a group moving towards the base, then go back and tell the others and fight off the enemy with the same number of people. This plan could fail if any of the members of the opposing force escapes the attack and informs the others the location of your base. The trick in catching the enemy off guard takes camouflage and concealment. Since the guns have a limited range, it is best to wait until the opposing force enters the “kill zone” before any shooting takes place. When a firefight takes place, the player’s position has been revealed. Since the enemy will return fire, the person can still survive the enemy’s bullets by getting sufficient cover. If this is not feasible, then transferring to a better area is a good idea. The player should inform the others before moving so that the others can give adequate cover. It takes planning for the play to work. By communicating on the field, the team has a good chance of defending the base then surging forward to kill the enemy or capture the flag.

Today paintball is one of the most popular sports not only in the United States but around the world. It is a fun and exciting game that offers adventure to its players. When getting on the paintball field, it is very important to consider your one important friend – the paintball gun. Paintball would not be paintball without the paintball gun. All paintball guns may look the same but it is important to remember that choosing the right paintball gun is not an easy task. Here are some tips that you may need to consider: 1. The very first thing that needs to be considered when buying a paintball gun is the price. It is important that the buyer determine his budget for the gun. There are many paintball guns in the market and prices may range from $100 to $900. The cost of the gun will depend on the brand and features that come with it. 2. It is recommended a person test all types of guns before buying one. He may want to try those that he has borrowed or rented which will give him the chance to choose which a gun that works for him. The paintball gun should provide ease of use and comfort for the user. 3. Before buying a paintball gun, it is important that he decide on the size of the gun, the paintball loader and the tank that he desires. Remember that the bigger the tanks and the paintball loaders the heavier the gun becomes. A good gun should be the right size for the user and should contain the amount of paintball needed to fire at the opponents. 4. The buyer should shop around first before deciding on a particular paintball gun. This will give him the chance to evaluate and compare prices. Some shops offer lower prices than other shops, so do some research and purchase the one that fits your needs and pocketbook. 5. Seek advice from friends who play paintball, instructors, and coaches of paintball games who will be able to provide some tips on what paintball guns they have used and have found effective. Paintball stores can also recommend some good paintball guns and/or those that they most often sell to their customers. After choosing the right paintball gun, you must familiarize yourself with the machine. Practicing with the paintball gun will help you move with the gun as well as apply some strategies for using the gun.