A Beginner's Guide to Paintball

Paintball is a growing sport and a lot of people are trying it for the first time. But as my grandpa says, it’s all fun and games till someone loses an eye! With that said, it’s important you know what you’re doing.

• While we’re on the subject of losing eyes, the first rule is to never EVER take your mask off unless you’re in a designated area. Paintball guns are pretty powerful, so unless you’d be into wearing an eye patch for the rest of your life, keep the mask on.

• Make sure you understand your paintball gun and its operations and limitations. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if you’re unsure.

• Wear darker clothes. White is bright and makes you an easier target, especially if there are sniper paintball guns in use.

• As far as shoes go, wear some type of boots or hiking/running shoes. Some people even wear Soccer or Football cleats for better traction.

• Keep your eyes open and look around. A lot of players get hit because they aren’t looking sideways or are too focused on one area. Look around, people could be anywhere.

• Don’t stay a spot for too long. Don’t be afraid to run out uncovered. Run, hide, attack and remember to look around. This may take a while to train yourself to do, because it’s our nature to focus on one thing, but you’ll get better the more you play.

• Never give up! Whether you run out of paintball supplies or energy, you’re still useful to the game.

Remember to check out ChoicePaintballGuns.com for great deals on paintball supplies.

How Can I Make My Paintball Rifles More Accurate?

When playing paintball, you can do it for just fun, but I think even the "just fun" people still want their paintball rifles to shoot accurately enough. Well, there are a couple of things you can do to ensure this.

First off, it's said that a 16 inch barrel is the optimum size. It improves aim and accuracy, I mean, you will need some practice, but most people that use the 16 inch Werks Tippmann Paintball guns find that the shot is a lot more efficient!

You should also be looking at the paint balls you're using. There are cold weather balls and warm weather balls and they usually have a surrounding shell or chemical ingredient in the "paint" that changes the overall velocity of the balls.

Lastly, when possible, it’s best to use Tippmann paintball guns since these use compressed air mechanism instead of CO2. It's said that CO2 is problematic and can deliver less than wanted results because the CO2 gas oftentimes ruins the contact action of the balls coming out of the barrel.

Obviously, use whatever you see fit - but it's something to try if you want to try a few other options out!

Choosing Paintball Rifles

One should not approach choosing paintball rifles lightly. There are many factors that you must consider before investing in paintball rifles. First of all, you need to determine how seriously you take the sport. Are you a casual paintballer who only plays now and then on random weekends? Are you on the opposite end of the spectrum and view the sport as war without the literal casualties? Alternatively, are you somewhere in-between? If you are the first you are obviously not going to need to put in much thought.

A low end paintball rifle will suit your purposes. However, if you are a full on paintball warrior, nothing but the best will suit you. You may want to have a top of the line paintball sniper rifle with a massive hopper with which you can pick off opponents with ease.

If you are in the middle, you will want something that is sturdy and of good quality but will not break your bank. For example, one of the Tippmann paintball guns might be what you are looking for. These guns are geared toward a younger player and thus are perfect for someone who is not looking for something that is packed with features. It also makes a great gift for your child who is into the sport.

What Safety Precautions Should I Take With Paintball Rifles?

Paintballing can end up being a really fun recreational activity to either do with your friends or your family. But, as with most other contact sports, even paintball, it’s always a good idea to take certain precaution measures in order to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you. First and foremost it's important you have the right gear. After getting hit with a paintball once or twice, a lot of people learn that wearing long sleeves and long pants is a really good idea! Paintballs aren't as hard as rocks, but it's also not like having someone throw a cotton ball at you either!

They can leave welts on your skin and sometimes, depending on how close the person is to you, these can sting quite a lot! Second off, it's always a good idea to buy a pair of goggles. This might seem silly, but it's better than getting paint in your eye! If you don't like the goggle option you could get a mask instead. These are actually really cool looking and come in all sorts of colors and designs! Elbow pads, knee pads, chest protection and... groin protection could also be another option to look into.

Lastly, paintball gloves! These are really just to ensure that you have a good grip on your paintball rifles. A lot of the guns like Tippmann paintball guns already come with a grip on the gun, but if you want to really get into the game and be able to really kick some butt, a little extra grip is going to work wonders for you!