| Many people think that airsoft and paintball are | | | | hit the bone. Airsoft bb's rarely cause bone injuries, but |
| dangerous, but the truth is neither one of these | | | | there is documented evidence that these injuries do |
| extreme sports produces more injuries than a | | | | occur. Which does not apply to the friendly game of |
| common club sport (ie. basketball, football, baseball, | | | | paintball. The most typical injuries from both sports are |
| etc). If you are thinking about joining either of these | | | | ankle and eye related. And for both sports, these |
| sports, all the power to you. However, while both | | | | injuries occur in the same way. |
| sports are safe, airsoft is considerably more | | | | Ankle injuries cannot be avoided in any sport. If a |
| intimidating than paintball. The fire rate for airsoft guns | | | | player accidentally twists or rolls in an unnatural |
| is usually around 300-450 fps. Paintball guns rarely | | | | direction, an injury may occur. Ankle injuries happen in |
| reach 300 fps, in fact, most paintball fields have | | | | paintball and airsoft, but they also happen in just about |
| restrictions that disallow players to have a fire rate | | | | every sport. Nothing we can do about these. For eye |
| above 300 fps. | | | | injuries, if a paintball or bb pellet contacts an |
| Airsoft bb's can pierce objects, including human skin. | | | | unprotected eye, serious damage can be inflicted. The |
| Paintballs are designed to inflict as small amount of | | | | difference between eye injuries for airsoft and paintball |
| pain as possible. Which is why a paintball is wider, and | | | | is that paintball will usually leave temporary damage, |
| more blunt. Because of a paintballs large surface area, | | | | but an airsoft bb in the eye will almost always cause |
| the force of a paintballs impact is distributed over a | | | | permanent damage. |
| larger target area. Which causes there to be less pain | | | | An experienced player from both sports knows that |
| in one specific area. | | | | eye protection is an absolute must. And when the |
| So while you will never receive an injury from a | | | | proper precautions are taken, both sports are very |
| paintball making contact with a skin protected body | | | | safe. That being said, airsoft will be too painful and |
| part, airsoft bb's can, and do, occasionally injure skin | | | | scary for many prospective players. If the absence of |
| protected body parts. The reason for this, is because | | | | danger and pain are your main criteria for airsoft vs |
| a paintball will never reach past the skin, but a bb can | | | | paintball, then paintball is your best option. |