Paintball: Everything You Need To Know For Newbies
What is Paintball
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.” ~Paulo Coelho
Paintball is a sport which players compete, individually or as teams, to eliminate other players by hitting them with paintballs fired from a paintball marker. The paintball marker, also known as a paintball gun, is powered by either compressed air or CO2 and is fitted with a hopper that feeds paintballs into the barrel. Paintballs are typically made of gelatin capsules filled with water-soluble dye and have a diameter of approximately 0.68 inches (17 mm).
Safety is paramount in paintball, and players must wear masks to protect their eyes and faces from paintballs. In addition, clothes that cover the entire body are recommended, as paintballs can break open on impact and leave bruises. Most paintball venues also require players to sign waivers in case of injury, thus releasing them from liability.
You can play paintball games on either indoor or outdoor courses. Indoor courses are typically designed to provide close-quarters combat, while outdoor classes take advantage of the larger playing area to include features such as bunkers, woods, and hills. Many different types of paintball games can be played, with the most popular being capture the flag, elimination, and team deathmatch.
Paintball games typically last about 10-15 minutes, but this can change depending on the type of game being played. Players must first form teams and select their equipment to play paintball. Once everyone is ready, the teams will take their positions on the course and start the game. The objective of the game depends on the type of game being played. For example, in capture the flag, the aim is to capture the opposing team's flag and return it to your team's base; in elimination, the objective is to eliminate all members of the opposing team; in team deathmatch, the objective is to score more points than the other team by eliminating members of the opposing team.