| Stop Being a Paintball Newbie! | | | | And remember, just because a player is running |
| | | | towards you shouldn't just assume that they are on |
| Paintball is one of the fastest growing recreation | | | | the other team. If you are playing a 'Capture the Flag' |
| sports in the world. At the tournament level, players | | | | game, that might be your team mate trying to get |
| require all the athletic prowess and skill of more | | | | back to your end of the field with the enemy flag. |
| traditional physical sports. In the US and Europe in | | | | * Play With Your Team! * |
| particular, huge amounts of money are being invested | | | | In casual, walk-on paintball games you will always find |
| in paintball athletes and teams. | | | | at least one self styled lone gun, determined to win the |
| Pretty much everyone comes into paintball at the | | | | war on his own. Don't be that player! |
| recreational level; it's a fun day out and a chance to | | | | Paintball is a team sport and you can't win without |
| outsmart the other side. If you are just getting into | | | | supporting your side. If you want to move forward |
| paintball, here are some ways to get the edge over | | | | through the opposition, you can place a few paintballs |
| other new players and even the odds with more | | | | near their cover to keep their heads down while your |
| experienced players. These tips aren't going to get you | | | | team mates move forward. They can then do the |
| on to a professional paintball squad, but they should | | | | same for you. This is the paintball equivalent of passing |
| help get you beyond 'newbie' status. | | | | the ball. |
| * Use cover effectively * | | | | Try getting all the way to an enemy flag on your own, |
| So here's a tip from the army - don't look over | | | | if you must. Unless the other side has been almost |
| obstacles or cover, look around them. The shape of a | | | | eliminated, the closer you get to their flag, the closer |
| human head peering over a barricade is easily | | | | you are to their defence squad. That means paintballs |
| recognized. If possible, look around the base of the | | | | coming your way soon, Rambo! |
| bush instead; it makes you much harder to spot. | | | | * Try To Stay Mobile * |
| Sometimes you may want to be spotted, if paintballs | | | | If you pick a barricade or any other type of cover that |
| are flying your way it helps your team locate the | | | | is difficult to leave, once the opposition figures out you |
| opposing players. If you do stick your head up, then, | | | | location, you will become a paintball magnet. Try to |
| limit exposure to a maximum of two seconds. | | | | select cover that has more than one line of retreat. |
| That advice is only useful, however, if the cover that | | | | Don't always shoot from the same spot; keep |
| you have selected is appropriate. Make sure that you | | | | changing the location and angle you are firing from. |
| are adequately hidden; a shot to the foot in paintball will | | | | Keep the opposition guessing where the next paintball |
| still put you out of the game. A couple of roots are not | | | | is coming from. |
| enough cover and paintballs can still hit you through | | | | If a paintball comes past you in a near miss get |
| grass! | | | | moving, another one will be along soon and you want |
| * Identify Your Target First * | | | | to be somewhere else. |
| If you have been on a paintball field a couple of times, | | | | And whatever you do, don't try to climb a tree! I've |
| you will most likely have:a) Shot at and probably hit a | | | | seen people do it. You're not going to get down in a |
| member of your own team.b) Been hit by a stray or | | | | hurry, there usually isn't enough foliage to hide you and |
| deliberately aimed 'friendly' paintball. | | | | once you fire your paintball gun, everyone knows |
| Everyone does it, but mostly when they first start | | | | where you are. From then on it's a duck shoot until you |
| playing. Most people react to the first scenario by | | | | are down from the tree and that usually isn't before |
| pretending it wasn't them and the second situation with | | | | you get at least 20 nice paintball sized bruises. |
| righteous indignation. | | | | * Don't Cheat * |
| It happens. | | | | Wiping the evidence of a hit away is as low as you go |
| You can reduce the incidents of friendly fire in a | | | | in paintball. If you do it, you will eventually get caught. |
| paintball game (at least the ones that you cause!), by | | | | Analyse what happened and take the experience to |
| making sure you have properly identified your target. | | | | the next game instead. Don't give anyone reason to |
| It's difficult with paintball masks that steam up and an | | | | doubt you. |
| adrenaline high, but it's one of the essential skills that | | | | Remember - it's just a game! |
| you need as a regular paintballer. Nobody wants a | | | | Jo Blake writes for Paintball5 ( Subscribe to our |
| player on their team who has a reputation for | | | | paintball RSS feed and sign up for our newsletter to |
| removing their own team mates. | | | | stay up to date with the latest in paintball! |