| Do you consider yourself a tactical genius? Are you a | | | | expensive tournament-level gun right out of the starting |
| great shot with your BB gun and in need of a new | | | | gate. Get a decent semi-automatic and learn how to |
| shooting challenge? Do you like playing war? If you | | | | clean and care for it before you bring it out in the field. |
| answered yes to all of the above, you may want to | | | | Also, before you use it in actual paintball combat |
| try paintball. | | | | scenarios you should shoot plenty of stationary targets |
| Paintball is not the kind of sport you just jump into, | | | | first. |
| though. It's an activity that requires at least some basic | | | | Practice makes perfect, so practice shooting, practice |
| equipment. Of course, the gun is the most logical | | | | loading, and practice cleaning your new weapon. When |
| starting point, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. | | | | you get on the field, you don't want to find out there's |
| There's actually one piece of equipment that might | | | | something about your marker you don't know, like |
| even be more important than your choice of weapon, | | | | maybe your scope is way off and needs serious |
| and that's your eyewear. Goggles can fog up in | | | | adjusting. Fine tune these things way before you hit |
| combat, and there are thermal versions that address | | | | the field. |
| this problem. Or, you can get anti-fog spray to prevent | | | | The cardinal rule when it comes to paintball clothing is: |
| this issue from ruining your day. Most good paintball | | | | wear something you're not afraid to get really dirty in. |
| goggles include the whole facemask or are integrated | | | | Think about your surroundings, too and try to wear |
| into a set-up that looks more like a full-fledged helmet. | | | | thick clothing that will both protect your skin from welts |
| Don't think you can get away with a pair of skimpy | | | | and help you blend in to the background better. |
| protective goggles made for a workshop or a science | | | | Bring worn-in footwear that has good traction, ankle |
| lab. You'll only get injured and may even "shoot your | | | | support, and won't hurt your feet. Light hiking boots or |
| eye out." | | | | football cleats are the best bet, as you are sure to be |
| Also, don't ever wipe paint off your goggles. Paint is | | | | doing a lot of running to avoid the best players on the |
| sticky. Foreign matter will surely get into it, and if you | | | | opposing team. |
| wipe it off, you could scratch your lenses. Find a spray | | | | Finally, wear gloves if you have them. Since most |
| bottle, fill it with water, and throw it in your paintball gear | | | | players cut the fingers off their gloves to allow for |
| bag. When you need to clean your goggles, spray the | | | | better grip, you may want to look for finger-less gloves |
| gunk off first, and then dry them. | | | | to start with. Of course, there are also countless |
| Ok, so how about the firepower now? A basic | | | | different kinds of paintball specific gloves, too. Shop |
| semi-auto paintball "marker" (pros don't call them guns) | | | | around. If you do get gloves with full fingers, you might |
| is what you should start with. They are easier to | | | | want to at least cut the top half off of the glove's |
| handle and fire. You pull the trigger once, and a paintball | | | | trigger finger. |
| comes out the end. You don't need a fancy, | | | | |