| Do you do your part? Paintball gun safety is a | | | | amount of fog that develops. It is not full proof but for |
| responsibility of every player. It is up to you to practice | | | | the average $5 per bottle price it is better than the |
| the proper safety procedures and also to help others | | | | alternative. |
| follow the guidelines. Just because other players are | | | | Goggles are one of the single most import safety |
| not following the rules should not be an excuse for you | | | | requirements in paintball, however, they are not the |
| to do the same. Proper safety techniques are the | | | | only link in the safety chain. For the utmost level of |
| responsibility of every player. | | | | safety to be achieved there are other areas to |
| When most players think of paintball safety they only | | | | consider. |
| consider the importance of wearing a mask or | | | | Also for body protection many players choose to |
| goggles while they are engaged in actual play. This is a | | | | wear a chest/back protector, a neck guard, full head |
| common mistake and can lead to other injuries on and | | | | cover, and gloves. Although none of these items are |
| off the field. | | | | required they do help to lessen the "sting" of the |
| When you consider all that is involved with complete | | | | paintball and can prevent bruising and pain in the more |
| paintball gun safety you quickly learn that it is far more | | | | sensitive areas. These extra measures can be |
| involved than just wearing your goggles. To be a | | | | especially helpful for new and younger players. |
| responsible paintball player requires commitment and | | | | As mentioned above, a chronograph is also an |
| an on-going effort to ensure safety for yourself and | | | | important device that plays a role in overall paintball |
| the other players. You must be informed, educated, | | | | gun safety. A chronograph is an electronic device that |
| and willing to practice proper safety procedures every | | | | measures the velocity (speed of the paintball as it |
| time you take the field. | | | | exits your barrel measured in fps or feet per second). |
| We will detail some important areas such as: face and | | | | The chronograph can be hand-held or table mounted. |
| eye protection (goggles), body protection (chest | | | | The paintball player shoots a paintball through the |
| protectors, gloves, and neck guards), paintball gun | | | | designated area of the chronograph. The chronograph |
| velocity (fps=feet per second), chronographs, referees, | | | | will then display a reading or measurement to show |
| barrel plugs and barrel socks, and the importance of | | | | how hard your gun is firing. Once you know the |
| your on-gun safety device. | | | | current velocity at which your paintball gun is shooting |
| To protect your body you will need an approved | | | | you can then adjust up or down to reach the desired |
| paintball goggle or mask. The job of the goggle is to | | | | level. Most paintball guns have a velocity screw |
| protect your eyes and face from the impact of a | | | | located on the side or back of the marker which |
| paintball. Since most paintball guns are suppose to | | | | requires an allen tool to adjust. |
| shoot at a regulated velocity of 265-300 fps, the | | | | Consult your owners manual for how to properly |
| impact of this force could damage your eyes. The | | | | adjust your guns velocity. As a general rule of thumb, |
| problem arises when many players are shooting "hot" | | | | most organized paintball fields require your velocity to |
| (above the regulated limit). Often times players do not | | | | be set between 265fps to 300fps. Check with your |
| know they are shooting above the limit because they | | | | local field for their specific guidelines. Indoor and smaller |
| have never used a chronograph to measure the | | | | sized fields may require a lower velocity while outdoor |
| speed of the paintball as it exits the barrel of their | | | | and larger fields may allow a higher velocity. Note that |
| marker. This is very important and should never be | | | | it may be very dangerous to turn your velocity up too |
| overlooked. Shooting at an excessively high velocity | | | | high. You could cause serious injury to yourself and/or |
| can cause serious injury. | | | | other players and it may cause your paintball gun to |
| Paintball goggles come in many different designs and | | | | not function properly or offer decreased accuracy and |
| colors. Some cover only your face, while other can | | | | even break the paintballs inside the barrel. |
| also cover your ears, neck and even your entire head. | | | | Yet another over-looked area of paintball gun safety is |
| The most important thing is to choose a goggle that | | | | the barrel plug or barrel sock. These are devices that |
| fits you properly and offers at least eye and face | | | | are designed to cover or block the end of the paintball |
| protection. | | | | gun barrel to prevent a paintball from exiting the barrel |
| Paintball goggles have a lens which allows you to see | | | | if the trigger is accidentally pulled. It is important to |
| clearly but is designed to protect your eyes from the | | | | always use your barrel plug or barrel sock at anytime |
| impact of a paintball. The lens can be one of two | | | | when you are not on the actual field. |
| types: a standard single-pane (non-thermal) lens which | | | | This also brings up another area of concern - the |
| means it may "fog" during play or the lens can be a | | | | actual safety device on the paintball gun. All paintball |
| dual-pane (thermal) lens which means it is less likely to | | | | markers have a safety to prevent the gun from firing. |
| fog. Small, battery-powered, fans can also be added | | | | This safety can be mechanical or electronic depending |
| to the goggles to help prevent fogging while playing. | | | | on your specific paintball gun. A mechanical safety is |
| Some paintball goggles, such as the Invert 20/20 | | | | typically a button that you press in one direction which |
| goggle system includes a thermal lens and a fan both. | | | | prevents the trigger from being pulled, usually located |
| This combination will provide the greatest level of | | | | on the side of the gun just above the trigger. An |
| anti-fog protection. | | | | electronic safety is usually a button that you press to |
| One of the most dangerous things a paintball player | | | | deactivate the firing option. It is critical that you always |
| can do is removing his/her goggles during a game or | | | | have your safety "on" when not in actual game play |
| at anytime he/she is not in a designated safe zone. It | | | | and anytime you are not on the actual field. |
| may seem like common sense not to remove your | | | | Remember that injury can occur not only on the field |
| eye protection while playing but many players do this | | | | but off the field as well. Keeping your gun on safety |
| because their lens has "fogged up" and they cannot | | | | and always using your barrel plug / barrel sock will |
| see. Lenses can develop fog due to heat/moisture | | | | greatly help reduce the chances of misfiring your |
| sweat from your body. | | | | paintball gun when not intended. |
| A single-pane lens is notorious for developing fog, | | | | Finally, we will discuss the importance of a referee. A |
| whereas a dual-pane or thermal lens is much less likely | | | | field "ref" as they are commonly called is an individual |
| to develop fog much the same way the windows in | | | | who is on the field during game play but not engage in |
| your house do not develop fog. With a dual-pane | | | | the competition itself. His/her only job is to enforce the |
| (thermal) lens there are actually two lenses separated | | | | rules so that everyone is safe and the game is played |
| and sealed by a barrier to trap air in between. This | | | | in a fair manner. A referee can advise players of |
| design is nearly fog resistant and typically the best and | | | | safety concerns, call players out when they are "hit", |
| safest choice when choosing a paintball mask. | | | | and manage the flow of the game play and events. It |
| A traditional single-pane goggle can range from $19 to | | | | is always a good idea to have at least one designated |
| $39 while a thermal goggle can range from $39 to | | | | referee to ensure the safety and fun of everyone |
| $129 or more. Although the cost can be higher the | | | | playing. The referee can also carry a chronograph with |
| thermal lens not only keeps you safe it makes playing | | | | him to check the players gun velocity before and |
| more fun because you do not have worry about your | | | | during the game. |
| goggles "fogging up". One player even said that he had | | | | The best way to promote paintball gun safety is to |
| rather have the worst paintball gun and the best set of | | | | learn the correct way to play and lead by example. If |
| goggles than to have the best paintball gun and worst | | | | you are doing everything correctly then other players |
| set of goggles. The truth is that if you cannot see then | | | | will learn by your example. If everyone has a safe day |
| you cannot play. | | | | of play then it is more fun, but if even one person gets |
| One counter-measure to the fog that develops on | | | | injured it can end the entire day of play for everyone. |
| single-pane goggles is the use of a liquid called | | | | Be smart and be safe. Practice the proper paintball |
| "anti-fog" or "fog-off" spray. This is sprayed onto the | | | | gun safety techniques on and off the field. |
| lens before a game starts and can help to reduce the | | | | |