Mike Lang asked:


Paintball is swiftly becoming a popular sport all over the world. There are now international competitions with prizes in excess of $100,000. It’s televised on ESPN and you would be hard pressed to not find a paintball field where ever you are. Along with the popularity come books that teach you how to play paintball and give pointers on playing the game as well as reviews on supplies and information on how to create strategies for the game. The following are a few books available on the market today to the paintball enthusiast that will help them develop and improve their game.

The Weekend Warriors is a paperback book by Scott Malensek. This book won’t give you a step by step description of how to play the game. Instead it reads more like a fiction book giving an account of the author’s paintball stories. The author has been a paintball player for many years and the stories span the time from you could only load one paint ball at a time into a paintball gun to today. You might learn something from the escapades of the author and you will learn strategies and what to do if something similar happens to you. The stories relayed in the book puts the reader into the player’s brain giving them insight and enabling them to solve problems on the field.

The Complete Guide to Paintball by Steve Davidson is another paperback that is a must read for paintball enthusiasts. The book gives you pointers and actual drills in order to improve paintball skills. This book gives you newest information on guns and new technology applicable to the game. It also provides information on tournament paintball and there are field listings in the US, Canada and other countries. Learn what to look for in a paintball gun and then read the section on care and maintenance of your equipment. There are over 500 color photos in the book. There is a great deal of detail in the book and it is exceptionally good for a beginner but a seasoned pro will also take away tips of the game. This book will give you an advantage when you play your next game.

50+ Ways to Play with Your Paintballs by Scott Malensek is a paperback that you must read. It gives you variations on games that you have been playing for years and also provides new game ideas. Most of the suggestions are very creative and will create a world in which you can envision yourself while playing a game. Some reviews of the book are less than complimentary stating that the book rambles and says the same thing over and over. Yet, other reviews call the book a valuable asset to anyone that plays paintball.

Gun-fu: the Martial Art of Paintball by Terry Adams depicts paintball as a martial art and explains techniques and strategy and encourages training to improve the game. Chapters detail body positions and psychological preparation for competition. There is even a spiritual flavor given to the game. It is good for the beginner all the way to players that have played the game for decades.



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Riley Hendersen asked:


For the paintball enthusiast, there are many different paintball fields from which to play. Part of this is the enormous popularity the sport has managed to garner for itself. A simple search typed in any internet search engine for “paintball fields” will bring up fields in virtually every state in the United States. This gives people many different options as to where to play and when.

There are several types of paintball fields. While some are indoors, most are based in the great outdoors. One of the most interesting things about the sport of paintball is the places where it can be played. While you should only play where it is safe, and where you have permission from any landowners, that really doesn’t limit your various options. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of places to play. This isn’t only true of the outdoors, where finding a paintball field isn’t hard at all, but it is also true of cities and towns, many of which will have their own indoor arenas that are used for paintball.

There are many types of outdoor paintball fields, and the terrain can vary from wooded areas, to relatively open fields, to paintball fields decked out with props like fake buildings, old cars, haystack walls, jerry-rigged forts, and whatever else the creative and active mind can conjure up. The variety often amazes beginners.

The woods are a natural and exciting place to play paintball. To many paintball players, the perfect paintball field is in the woods. In their minds this is the “purest” (i.e. most traditional) form of the sport. The thought behind this is that these fields are more like real-world combat. Players have to learn to use stealth, to work as a team, and often times when the paintball field is in the woods, fighting tends to break out spontaneously when one group fires on another from a cover position.

Another popular form is by having the paintball field at a “scenario field.” Which is an area that is designed similar to an urban assault and often has fake or basic buildings. The most advanced ones are even multi-story, and cover seems natural like in a city. This type of game leads to really fast action and sudden dramatic turns in who is winning and who is losing. This would be almost the complete opposite of a “speedball field” which is a very generic term used to describe fields with bunkers, haystacks, or just random obstacles across and otherwise open playing area.

Indoor paintball fields offer a very different experience from outdoor play. The first thing many new players notice when coming indoors is that paintball guns inside can be very loud. Because of limited space, play at an indoor arena is fast and furious, and will give you a massive adrenaline rush.

There are as many different types of paintball fields as there are players, and finding your best game in paintball might be just as easy as finding your preferred paintball field.



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Blair Stephens asked:


Of course, as a paintball enthusiast, you are always looking for expert advice on which paintball markers they use themselves and why. Unfortunately, the answer is neither consistent, nor simple because the paintball marker you choose is completely subjective to your tastes, needs and play strengths. What a great paintball player loves in a marker, may end up epitomizing everything you ****!

So let’s break down paintball markers in a different way.

· How much do you actually need to spend to stay competitive in the game?

· How much you can afford?

· How often do you play?

· Are you involved in paintball tournaments?

You may think that your level of play will be the same as the level of money you spend on a cool new paintball marker, but that is actually not the case. Although there is always peer pressure to get the latest and greatest, you can still be an awesome player without the 07 Ego or the DM7.

If you are a smart player, you’ll want to look for a marker that has great performance and features for better prices. As in all technology, bleeding edge may be cool, but it always costs a premium, so a lot of the features that were crazy a year or two ago are now consistently included in well made paintball markers. For instance, the Smart Parts Ion can fire more than 15 paintballs per second and it’s also efficient and accurate and retails for less than $200.00. This is a marker that is competitive in features and in price.

Paintball manufacturers have listened to the marketplace demand for feature rich and affordable markers and the market has undergone a shift in the last two years. There is now a mid level price point for those ready to spend a bit more money – the Smart Parts Epiphany and Invert mini cost around $400 and incorporate the features to go along with that price including a higher level of efficiency, firing rate, improved components and better software.

The next group of paintball markers, including names like the Proto Matrix, ETek Ego and Bob Long Intimidator jump to around $700 in price. Better quality materials and aftermarket quality stock barrels are frequently see in these models and most experts agree that anyone playing at a high level of competition should be using this level of marker at the very least.

If you have the money to invest, there are paintball markers out there at $1000 and up. The Angel One, Marq 6 and the Eclipse Ego are three top names and any of these are designed to come out of the packaging ready for high level paintball play. They are incredibly lightweight and efficient, have multiple firing modes, high quality components and they shoot the brittle paint. These are the markers most often used by professional level players and there is a reason for it!

Remember that the paintball marker right for you doesn’t have to cost $1000 and that you need to make the smartest decision based on affordability, feature set and individual taste to your needs and no one else’s! Take the time and do your research and you’ll end up with a great marker that will help you become the paintball player you want to be!



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Tim Hoss asked:


We have heard about all the hype. Paintball is becoming an exciting, exhilarating extreme sport. It is an extreme sport and sounds intimidating. In fact it is intimidating and this is exactly what this article is about. For those of you wondering about the experience and if you should try it, the answer is a simple yes!! We are going to share our first time experience with you and hopefully, the decision will be an easy one for you to join the ranks of a paintball enthusiast.

There are many approaches to starting out. We offer two for you to consider. Obviously, the approach you take is a personal choice. One is definitely more expensive and risky but it really depends if you are committed to trying the sport or not. The second is cheaper and easy, but may be higher on the intimidation factor as you will not know anything about the equipment before you play.

The first approach is to go to your local field and rent some equipment and get started. This is not the approach we took. We had already decided that paintball was a sport we were going to do no matter what. So in our case, my son and I decided to take the plunge and buy some equipment. He purchased an Ion and I purchased a Tippmann 98 Custom Pro. I decided to immediately upgrade by adding a Cyclone Feed Hopper and an Electronic Trigger. What in the heck was I doing? I had no idea, but the type of person I am makes that decision an easy one.

I wanted to know about the marker I was going to use and I thought there would be no better way than to install the upgrades myself. I could have easily purchased one already upgraded but I wanted to learn myself. That is a whole other story that we do not want to get in to here. Rest assured I was able to do it myself. Again, this was my personal approach that you may or may not want to follow.

The second option of owning the equipment first allowed us to spend adequate time at home familiarizing ourselves with the paintball marker and safe handling. We studied the manuals and procedures for loading and unloading.

General gun safety applies. Make sure you are not pointing it at anyone and goggles are always worn even when you are just handling the marker. A barrel sleeve is on at all times and if applicable, safety applied or marker powered down. We purchased some reusable v-balls (for some at home backyard fun and learning about firing our markers).

Finally, the weekend arrived and the anticipation and intimidation factor were both peaked. We arrived late to the field and so we were walking in on a scene that had numerous players waiting to start another game. It was raining lightly. We were tempted to just pack up and go back home as we were not sure what to expect.

The first thing we did was go to check in with the field operator. He gave us the general run down on what to pay and if we needed to rent equipment. We informed him and others that we were new and that we appreciated their help and guidance. The players were awesome. The field operator told us our markers had to be checked for velocity and we did that. He quickly adjusted the markers to ensure that we were safe and within field limits.

The players decided that the next game would be Woodsball. In woodsball, it is basically as the name sounds – a game in the bush where cover and camo rule. The players were quick to explain the basic rules and mostly safety. Always wear your goggles!!! (A tip here is to buy a good quality double thermal mask. Fogging your mask up and problems with your goggles will take away from the paintball experience.)

Walking in towards the field and well away from the field, we were told that from a certain spot we must keep our masks on at all times. When we arrived at the field we split in to teams. My son (aged 12) and I were on a team of 4 against 4 that were decked out with markers, nitrogen, remote lines and camo. Well did I mention our intimidation was peaked!!

We had never been hit by a paintball, let alone shoot anyone. We were not army veterans, marksmen, or athletes. We were just a father and son wanting to shoot paintball but at that split moment, we new we were in too far to back out and not far enough to stop. They told us some more basics like what “army rules” meant. The term is used to describe the rule that we would only be out if we were hit on the torso or head (not limbs). They told us not to remove our mask and to raise our arms if surrendering or hit. We were told to walk out with your arms raised until you are off the field. Do not shoot anyone too close and ask them to surrender.

If you run out of ammunition or air, you are also out. This would explain why the “intimidator” team had gear belts that held extra paintball “pods” (plastic tubes that hold a fill of paintballs for your loader) and a place for an air tank or extra air tank.

Okay we were positioned. We were split up and both teams had called out to the referee that we were ready to play. It was game on. Instantly the excitement peaked and we were in the game. My son flanked to the left. We stuck together and moved forward until we found some cover. All of our “Call of Duty” online experience flashing before our eyes. Don’t give away our position, be patient…ah just shoot!!!! One of us hit a player…a head shot. We both took credit for that one!

We felt cocky now. Shooting and exhilarated. I decided to move to another spot. Started to move and then in an instant ouch! I was hit in the back and out. I raised my hands over my head and called myself out. Moved to the edge of the field and watched from the sidelines. Reflecting how stupid I had been to just move without being more stealth like. Crap, now I had to wait until the next game. The earlier “ouch”, was not too bad. We felt our wounds but they were not very painful. We could describe it as an isolated almost sunburn feeling.

Soon after my son was also hit and he came out. Both of us could not wait to go again and like the first dive in to a pool – our hearts beating with excitement and exhilaration, we were hooked!



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Blair Stephens asked:


Looking for a great gift for the Paintball enthusiast in your family? Well, fall of 2006 marked the largest debut of new products in Paintball’s history. No matter what your budget; there is a hot new product to fit the bill.

Custom Products has always been known for their wide selection of “after-market” items for many different paintball markers. This holiday season they’re released their new Air Systems. They will be available in both 48 and 68ci and in high or low pressure. Prices on the air systems start around $220. They also just released 06 Ego Sling and Rake triggers as well as on/off plugs for the DM6. With prices below $30, these will make great stocking stuffers.

As anticipated, Dye rolled out their entire 2007 arsenal at this year’s World Cup. They didn’t disappoint with a redesigned C7 paintball clothing line, new C7 Slide Shorts, and their flagship marker the DM7. The DM7 is both smaller and lighter than last year’s DM6 and now includes a lever locking clamp feed neck. The new DM7s are retailing for $1399.

Dye’s daughter company, Proto, has also been hard at work. Their answer to Smart Parts low end / high performance Ion is the Proto Matrix Rail. The Rail retails at a mere $400 but includes BIG features such as anti chop eyes, a super light composite trigger frame, rate of fires in excess of 17 balls per second, and a bolt assembly that can easily be removed and cleaned from the back of the marker. It will be available in Black only through the holidays and additional colors will be available in early 2007.

Kingman and Tippmann are both battling for the entry level crowd. Tippmann’s new X7 Marker is designed to be the most customizable marker ever. It has thousands of combinations possible including new barrels, barrel shrouds, stocks, mock magazines, and many other accessories to fit any user’s desires. Kingman dropped their new VS line in the 3rd quarter. The VS2 and VS3 are complete revisions of the Spyder line but affordably priced. The VS2 starts at only $190 and includes high end features including low pressure operation and anti chop eyes.

Planet Eclipse completely redid their amazingly popular 06 Ego in the newly release 07 Ego. The 07 Ego isn’t just a revision; it’s a complete redesign of the Ego platform. The paintball marker is nearly a half pound lighter and has a new solenoid, grip frame, trigger, shaft barrel, totally revamped internals, and much more. This is the “must have” marker for 2007. Prices start at $1250. They will begin shipping to dealers on December 8th.

This year Empire released a full line of new paintball clothing and most notably their new marker the Invert Mini. The Invert is scheduled to begin shipping December 1st and has a laundry list of features including a gas through grip frame (a first for paintball) that allows the air in your bottom line to feed directly through your grip and into the marker. No more external hoses! It is both small and light and at only $400, it offers features comparable to markers double its cost!

Smart Parts has astonished the Paintball world with a complete revamp of their product line in the last 2 years. The introduction of the Ion in 2004 was their first step into the high performance low cost market at only $285. Only 2 years later, they’ve released the Epiphany. The Epiphany is based off the Ion design but includes a metal body, newly redesigned trigger frame, freak barrel, fire bolt, and a new adjustable firing chamber for increased efficiency. At only $400 this will be one of the hottest sellers this holiday season. Epiphanys begin shipping December 10th.

Other notable releases include VForce’s new Grillz system, Draxxus’s new 30+ balls per second Pulse Loader, and DerDer’s Soldiers of Misfortune DVD.



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Debra Atkins asked:


There are assorted real authentic and legendary paintball marker manufactures that provide a significant variety of different markers for your paintball experience. The paintball gun is known as the marker. The paintball gun or marker was first developed for the logging industry and the farmers to mark the livestock and the trees. Naturally it didn’t take long for a grouping of people to come together and originate the athletics of paintball games. There will be several roles for the players to accept. Depending on which game you settled on, or if you create the rules from game to game, paintball is enormous fun. If you are on a team, most all participants like the role of the paintball sniper. As you could guess, the assorted roles necessitate assorted guns. Numerous paintball participants like to acquire the best of the best when they pick out a new gun, but many participants go beyond the best markers, and acquire the most state-of-the-art markers. 

A electronic paintball guns, could be classified in some different types of guns. One of the unusual markers has something named an e-trigger, which could set up several bps and speed rates, which can be very helpful for different scenario sports. As professional paintball participants participate in professional paintball tourneys, and travel games they usually possess electronic paintball markers that they apply because this helps them to shoot quicker balls, and likewise aids accuracy also. 

Numerous big time paintball role players who go to travel games, and so forth use these markers, because they was mostly designed for speed ball gaming, as that’s what these players ordinarily play. A lot of beginner players may use these electronic paintball guns, just to realize a swift upper hand on the competition. 

The electronic paintball guns are designed for the extreme paintball enthusiast who might plays virtually non-stop, and wants to continue to move into first place at there tournaments they go to. The electronic paintball guns also comes with various items like hoppers too, that are electronic, and aid to feed in the paintballs into the paintball gun faster and aid the player shoot down the challenger faster. That might be great for the paintball participants who play the speed ball tournaments, and require to shoot real high-speed.



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