| Paintball is one of the fastest growing recreation | | | | team mates. |
| sports in the world. At the tournament level, | | | | And remember, just because a player is running |
| players require all the athletic prowess and skill of | | | | towards you shouldn't just assume that they are |
| more traditional physical sports. In the US and | | | | on the other team. If you are playing a 'Capture |
| Europe in particular, huge amounts of money are | | | | the Flag' game, that might be your team mate |
| being invested in paintball athletes and teams. | | | | trying to get back to your end of the field with |
| Pretty much everyone comes into paintball at the | | | | the enemy flag. |
| recreational level; it's a fun day out and a chance | | | | * Play With Your Team! * |
| to outsmart the other side. If you are just getting | | | | In casual, walk-on paintball games you will always |
| into paintball, here are some ways to get the | | | | find at least one self styled lone gun, determined |
| edge over other new players and even the odds | | | | to win the war on his own. Don't be that player! |
| with more experienced players. These tips aren't | | | | Paintball is a team sport and you can't win without |
| going to get you on to a professional paintball | | | | supporting your side. If you want to move |
| squad, but they should help get you beyond | | | | forward through the opposition, you can place a |
| 'newbie' status. | | | | few paintballs near their cover to keep their |
| * Use cover effectively * | | | | heads down while your team mates move |
| So here's a tip from the army - don't look over | | | | forward. They can then do the same for you. |
| obstacles or cover, look around them. The shape | | | | This is the paintball equivalent of passing the ball. |
| of a human head peering over a barricade is | | | | Try getting all the way to an enemy flag on your |
| easily recognized. If possible, look around the base | | | | own, if you must. Unless the other side has been |
| of the bush instead; it makes you much harder to | | | | almost eliminated, the closer you get to their flag, |
| spot. Sometimes you may want to be spotted, if | | | | the closer you are to their defence squad. That |
| paintballs are flying your way it helps your team | | | | means paintballs coming your way soon, Rambo! |
| locate the opposing players. If you do stick your | | | | * Try To Stay Mobile * |
| head up, then, limit exposure to a maximum of | | | | If you pick a barricade or any other type of |
| two seconds. | | | | cover that is difficult to leave, once the opposition |
| That advice is only useful, however, if the cover | | | | figures out you location, you will become a |
| that you have selected is appropriate. Make sure | | | | paintball magnet. Try to select cover that has |
| that you are adequately hidden; a shot to the | | | | more than one line of retreat. Don't always shoot |
| foot in paintball will still put you out of the game. | | | | from the same spot; keep changing the location |
| A couple of roots are not enough cover and | | | | and angle you are firing from. Keep the opposition |
| paintballs can still hit you through grass! | | | | guessing where the next paintball is coming from. |
| * Identify Your Target First * | | | | If a paintball comes past you in a near miss get |
| If you have been on a paintball field a couple of | | | | moving, another one will be along soon and you |
| times, you will most likely have:a) Shot at and | | | | want to be somewhere else. |
| probably hit a member of your own team.b) Been | | | | And whatever you do, don't try to climb a tree! |
| hit by a stray or deliberately aimed 'friendly' | | | | I've seen people do it. You're not going to get |
| paintball. | | | | down in a hurry, there usually isn't enough foliage |
| Everyone does it, but mostly when they first | | | | to hide you and once you fire your paintball gun, |
| start playing. Most people react to the first | | | | everyone knows where you are. From then on |
| scenario by pretending it wasn't them and the | | | | it's a duck shoot until you are down from the |
| second situation with righteous indignation. | | | | tree and that usually isn't before you get at least |
| It happens. | | | | 20 nice paintball sized bruises. |
| You can reduce the incidents of friendly fire in a | | | | * Don't Cheat * |
| paintball game (at least the ones that you cause!), | | | | Wiping the evidence of a hit away is as low as |
| by making sure you have properly identified your | | | | you go in paintball. If you do it, you will eventually |
| target. It's difficult with paintball masks that steam | | | | get caught. Analyse what happened and take the |
| up and an adrenaline high, but it's one of the | | | | experience to the next game instead. Don't give |
| essential skills that you need as a regular | | | | anyone reason to doubt you. |
| paintballer. Nobody wants a player on their team | | | | Remember - it's just a game! |
| who has a reputation for removing their own | | | | |