| Is paintball here to stay or is it just | | | | cheap. I have played with guys that spend |
| another fad that's going to be put away after | | | | thousands of dollars on their markers, AKA |
| a while, kind of like boy bands and bell | | | | paintball gun, (due to BATFE Regulations they |
| bottoms? I know that's like comparing apples | | | | can't be called paintball guns, or else they |
| to oranges but Paintball is a very fast | | | | fall under the National Firearms Act.)What I |
| growing sport. They have professional | | | | suggest doing is going to a local field and |
| paintball leagues and semi pro leagues that | | | | see if they rent out equipment and try the |
| are played on ESPN at 10pm Saturday, so it's | | | | game out. Remember the rental equipment is |
| the nerdy guy that sits there and watches | | | | just that, a rental, they do this so new |
| this thinking “hey I can do | | | | players (newbs) can try out the sport without |
| that”. They run around the field and | | | | going into a financial hole. Then if you want |
| shoot little balls filled with paint at each | | | | to continue playing, start buying your |
| other. Believe me its harder that it looks. | | | | equipment. There are four things that any new |
| | | | player has to have to get started and not get |
| The sport messes with your head. The first | | | | frustrated with the game. First, buy a decent |
| time you have one of those little balls wiz | | | | marker. Don't buy the Wal-Mart $99 package |
| by your head at about 300fps, you start | | | | deal. When it comes to markers you get what |
| thinking things. Your mind won't register | | | | you pay for. Second, buy a good mask, not the |
| that it's not going to kill you; it's telling | | | | cheap ones that fog up on you when you're |
| you that hey that ball is moving pretty damn | | | | playing. The worst thing is when your mask |
| fast. Just to ponder how far that is lets do | | | | fogs up and you have 2 guys of the other team |
| some math. 3feet = 1 yard, 100yards = | | | | flanking you and now you're going to have |
| 300feet, 100 yards is also the distance of a | | | | welts on both sides of you. GET A GOOD MASK. |
| football field. So theoretically a paintball | | | | You will also need a good air system. There |
| can travel the distance of a football field | | | | have been a lot of debates on whether CO2, |
| in one second. Now there are other factors | | | | N20 or CA is best. Compressed Air is a bit |
| involved in how they travel but I am not | | | | expensive so for the beginner it is probably |
| going to go into that right now. Let me tell | | | | not the best choice. Depending on the |
| you though the first time you get hit by one | | | | marker, some of them require either a CO2 |
| of these you will know it. It's a stinging | | | | regulator or using CA. C02 is a good way to |
| sensation for about a minute but then it goes | | | | start, make sure you get a large enough tank |
| away. The only bad part is that you will | | | | so your not refilling every game and don't |
| remember that hit for about a week afterwards | | | | leave the tank in the sun. When CO2 gets warm |
| until that welt goes down. | | | | the pressure in the bottle rises and you will |
| | | | have your own miniature missile. (I know what |
| The game is also physically tough; you have | | | | you're thinking, don't try that at home). The |
| to run jump, crawl and sit, depending on what | | | | last thing to get is if your going to play |
| type of game you're playing. When I first | | | | speedball, get a pod pack. They are small |
| started I was playing speed ball, took a run | | | | little backpacks that hold 2 to 8 pods of |
| off the starting box and did a dive into a | | | | paintballs. Remember if you run out of paint |
| bunker. To this day I still have a chunk | | | | in a game, you're a sitting duck. |
| missing out of my thumb from where it slammed | | | | |
| into the ground. Be prepared for anything. | | | | Remember the most important thing in this |
| It's the closest I think humans get to war | | | | game is safety! Always wear your mask on the |
| without being shot at with real bullets. | | | | field, and if you're in an area that the |
| | | | barrel condoms come off your mask goes on. |
| So you want to know how to get started? The | | | | Have fun! |
| first thing I can say is the sport isn't | | | | |