| Strategic Paintball FAQ |
| 1. | What is paintball? |
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| 2. | Is it safe? |
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| 3. | Doesn't it hurt when you get shot? |
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| 4. | Do I have to be on a team? |
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| 5. | Where can I play? |
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| 6. | What kind of Paintball Field should I look for? |
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| 7. | How much does it cost to play? |
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| 8. | What do I need to bring? |
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| 9. | What safety equipment do I need? |
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| 10. | How can I play safe? |
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| 11. | Do I need to be physically fit to play? |
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| 12. | Can I get the paint out of my clothes? |
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| 13. | List of commonly used terms in paintball |
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| 1. | What is paintball? |
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Paintball is a sport in which a group of players gather in a defined
area (i.e., woods, field, arena), rules and safety measures reviewed, and teams are assigned.
Basically, each player has a marker (i.e., gun) that fires gelatin capsules filled with a water-soluble marking dye. If a player is shot and marked by paint, that player is out of the game. |
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| 2. | Is it safe? |
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Like all sports, paintball is dangerous, therefore adequate protection
is required and safety rules must be adhered to.
Most paintball markers shoot a 68-caliber paint pellet. The pellet is a thin, plastic shell filled with a water-soluble paint. Most fields require players to chronograph (i.e., adjust their velocity) their markers to an output no faster than 285 fps. Due to the velocity that a paintball travels, a protective mask is required to protect a player's eyes and face. Safety is of utmost importance for all players. Many fields require that masks be worn at all times, with the exception of designated areas. Also required, is the use of barrel plugs or barrel covers. |
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| 3. | Doesn't it hurt when you get shot? |
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The paint pellets break open upon impact and, generally speaking, cause very little pain. The pain that is experienced is more of a stinging
sensation from the pellet's impact against the skin or through clothing.
Generally, the stinging goes away after a few seconds. Needless to
say, the closer to the muzzle of the marker, the higher the velocity of
the pellet upon impact, the more pain that can be experienced, thus more
pain may be experienced when shot at close range rather than farther
away.
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| 4. | Do I have to be on a team? |
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Players don't have to have an organized team or go to an organized
field in order to play. If you have some paintball markers, sufficient
masks, and a few friends, you can simply get together for a game in a
designated area.
Most commercial fields allow walk-on games where anybody can show up
and play.
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| 5. | Where can I play? |
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Almost all paintball locales rent markers and welcome new players.
Fields can be found using the yellow pages or Internet (search for
"Firearms" or "Sports Equipment"), local newspapers, ads in a number of the
paintball magazines, or by word of mouth (you can always ask members on
SP's forum for favorite fields).
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| 6. | What kind of Paintball Field should I look for? |
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For the first few games you
should play on a well organized field. Size is not the best way to judge
the 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. |
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| 7. | How much does it cost to play? |
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The average field in North America
will cost approximately $15-25+ for 1 day rental of goggles, gun and some,
usually 30, paintballs. Extra paintballs are usually 10 cents or less each.
Better guns and facemasks are usually available at an additional cost. A beginner should plan on using 100-200 paintballs for the first few days with rental guns. A day of play is usually 9:00am to 3:30 pm. If you start playing regularly and would like to have your own equipment, you have several options open to you. Buying a used pump action gun and a new pair of goggles is a good start. You can buy a used pump for $50 to $150. You can buy an entry level semi-automatic for $100 to $300. A new pair of goggles might cost $20 to $40. Buying yourself a new pair of goggles designed specifically for paintball is a must. Paint costs about $.03 to $.04 per pellet. You may go through several hundred pellets of paint over the course of a single day, so this cost should be a long term consideration. Depending on the type of gun you're using, the cost of CO2 should also be a long term consideration. If you're using a 12-gram gun (see list of terms, below) you can buy disposable 12-gram "powerlets" at your local sporting goods store for a few dollars a pack. If you're using a constant air tank, you should be able to get it refilled at your local paintball shop or field for about $3-$5, depending on its size. |
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| 8. | What do I need to bring? |
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It's a sport in which a bunch
of adults (loosely defined) go out in the woods and relive our childhood
by playing capture the flag. Only, in this game each player has a gun that
fires gelatin capsules filled with a water-soluble marking dye. If you're
shot and marked, you're out of the game and have to wait until the next
one starts. The most common variation is two teams at opposite ends of a
5+ acre section of terrain, each with a flag hung at 'home base.' The object
is to go get the other team's flag and bring it back to your base. When
you encounter people on the other team, you try to tag them out before they
get you. Pretty simple and lots of fun. |
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| 9. | What safety equipment do I need? |
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The minimum safety equipment
necessary is goggles, facemask with ear and throat protection, and, for
men, a protective cup. |
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| 10. | How can I play safe? |
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Do not shoot animals or wildlife.
Do not fire your paintgun anywhere except on the field during the game or in the designated chronograph area/shooting range. Inspect the lens of your goggles for cracks or signs of weakness. Make sure your mask is well seated and will not come off during the game. Make sure the velocity of your paintgun is below 300 feet per second. Always assume the gun is loaded; even if you know otherwise. Always assume safety devices won't work. Unload the gun when not in use. Upon receiving or retrieving a gun check if it's loaded. Anytime you are carrying a paintgun in a 'safe zone' such as the parking lot or staging area where people are not wearing goggles, you MUST have a barrel plug in the barrel. Know the rules of the game and abide by them. Never remove facemasks or goggles while on the field. Do not play when very tired or hungry. Bring food or money to buy food from field. Most injuries occur at the end of the day when players are exhausted. NEVER look down the barrel. Not even with protection. If barrel needs checking remove from the gun and check. If the barrel cannot be removed, disconnect all CO2/CA equipment, test fire the gun downrange until no more gas is left in the gun, clear the breech or ball loading area, and then, carefully and while wearing goggles, glance down the barrel. Notify the field owner or manager of any medical conditions, allergies etc. |
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| 11. | Do I need to be physically fit to play? |
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Not really, but it will help.
As with all strenuous exercise participants should stretch and warm up before
playing. Since typical games require quick sprints followed by a rest having
good an-aerobic fitness is beneficial. Players should gauge their play to their level of fitness. All players in poor physical condition or with physically limiting conditions should consult a physician before playing. Proper footwear is very important. Some players find that lightweight canvas topped army boots or leather workboots protect feet and ankles in the woods. Other players prefer the support that sneakers give as paintball does involve running. Personal preferences vary, but footwear should not be overlooked. |
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| 12. | Can I get the paint out of my clothes? |
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Paint is water soluble and should
wash out as normal. |
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| 13. | List of commonly used terms in paintball |
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