Where to Play Paintball

Paintball is usually played in neighborhood backyards, somewhere in the woods, or on abandoned or empty lots. Though it is usually alright to hold paintball games at these places, there are safer venues for having paintball competitions.

Many fields specially designed for paintball games are being developed in the U.S. These organized fields allow paintball players to have their games in a safe environment.

It is recommended that paintball games be held in commercial fields rather than backyards and empty lots. Commercial fields have referees who know how to play the game in a safe manner. In addition, commercial fields offer several choices when it comes to types of field, making the games more interesting and challenging for the players. Most importantly, these fields have insurance, and are in the proper zone.

If one decides to play in the woods, make sure permission is granted to play there. No one wants to have a game interrupted by an angry landowner because his or her property is being trespassed upon.

The scope of the playing arena should be determined, and the boundaries marked with neon tape so that players will know where and/or where not to go.

What are the factors to consider when scouting for a field to hold the games?

First, there is the price. The going rates for field rentals range from $15-20, plus the fees for gun rentals and paintballs. Secondly, one should inquire if the place serves food and drinks to customers. Lastly, one should inquire about their playing hours.

One of the best fields in the country for playing paintball is Robinhood Paintball located in Havre de Grace, Maryland. They provide different kinds of paintball games, such as recreational and tournament style plays. Robinhood Paintball has a total of six playing fields that give new gaming experiences for users because of its constant rearrangement. Considering the experience of the staff, their willingness to ensure that players will have a good time while staying on the premises, and the prices that Robinhood Paintball charge are fair enough. They will also guarantee the safety of the equipment that the players will use.

Aside from Robinhood, there are other fields in Maryland that offer good services to players. There is Maryland Paintball on Route 40 and Outdoor Adventures in Bowie.

When engaging in paintball games, just make sure to take all the necessary precautions in order to have a good AND safe time. Always remember to check the fields for potential danger, and to observe all the rules so that nobody gets hurt.

Do you know where to shop for paintball gear?

There are many online shops as well as retail stores all over the country that sell and offer paintball guns, markers, as well as anything and everything that relates to the game of paintball.

One shop that can be accessed online is paintballgun.com. This online store is unique in its own way because this shop is operated, built and run by players of paintball.

They have solid as well valid ideas what paintball players need and/or want to have. They also have a number of years of experience in the paintball industry.

Usually, items ordered thru paintballgun.com are shipped immediately - in as little as twenty four to forty eight hours.

Believe it or not, paintballgun.com offers a thirty day guarantee so that you can get your money back if you are in any way dissatisfied with their product. Just make sure that all merchandise purchased, whether new or used, is returned using the same packaging in which it was originally received.

A one year warranty is provided to all and /or any parts of items purchased, as well as an extended warranty on all guns purchased.

The catalogues they provide are also available online. This is one of the reasons they are able to keep their prices low since printing is expensive and takes longer than posting item details on the net. Also, their prices are updated online and they try �as much as possible � to lower their prices for you.

Currently, any items purchased through their online store can be paid for using credit cards such as Master Card, Visa, Amex and Discover.

They also accept checks and are also utilizing the online service of Paypal. All items purchased from paintballgun.com are one hundred percent insured. Just make sure that you keep on record the number of the invoice, the tracking number and any damage the item might have incurred during shipping when you call the department that handles claims at paintballgun.com.

Another online shop that sells paintballs is Xtremez Wholesale. They are the source of most items found in paintball shops that are found across the country. However, their focus is on special paintball as well as Airsoft retail stores.

Their trade shows are a perfect venue to display their products, making it easier for you or anyone to directly make that one essential purchase in one shop, conveniently and easily, rather than going to many others.

There are many paintball stores but it may be easier to locate and purchase goods online thru the internet. All one has to do is seek and surely you will definitely find!

Paintball: the art of retreat

In cases where you encounter a situation where you or your paintball team have to back down and retreat, the following are effective ways to make retreating more effective, if not successful.

Always have a plan b:

When you or your squad needs to move to another position, make sure that this area is far safer as this will be the place where you have to retreat to. Plan ahead so that you will know the ideal place for you and your team to be. Usually, good places to retreat are those that provide cover for the team or is a nearer to the other squad units of your team. It is essential that this area is known by everyone, and all know how to get there. It is also important that all go there together, when such a need arises.

Fight together, run together:

When it is time to retreat, retreat all together, retreat as one group. "All for one and one for all" is the best defense you can have. Your group's combined strength is a force to reckon with when under attack.

Imagine if your team was to run off in various directions, you would be unable to watch and protect each other. It is difficult to battle the enemy if everyone is far apart, especially if you and your other team mates are safely nestled in their separate areas.

Fire, fire, fire and fire:

The most effective way to break from an attack is to fire back with an enormous amount of paintball ammunition as this will cause the opposing team to hide and protect themselves from your fire. When the leader of your squad decides to retreat, continue firing all together, hit everything that is moving for about three seconds and then, retreat! Do not forget to fire back and occasionally turn around to check on anyone who may be firing at you. Do this as a group.

Keep in mind that retreats are not an opportunity to duck and cover but to make moves that are strategically important to the group's welfare. Therefore, it should be quick.

Exception to the rule

There is an exception to the "fire when retreating rule." The act of retreating and not returning any shots is when you or your squad is asked to help your fellow team members. On this occasion, moving as a unit with speed is still very important.

Retreating is not easy but it could be the best choice you or your group have to keep your team from losing.

Outnumbered, outsmarted, but not outdone

There are a few things you could do when you are outnumbered during a game of paintball. The first - do not panic. The second, you must think � it is just a game. Or is it?

The first thing to do is to select a team leader. After that is done, it is the leader that teammates must rely on when quick decisions have to be made.

The following are basic things that can be done when you or your team feels that they have been outnumbered in paintball.

Be on the defense:

Make sure that all of your team mates are placed near the boundary of the field so that the opposing team will have little chance to sneak up on you. Next, designate one to three players to patrol the field (the number depends on your team's size). Ask them to patrol around the field, specifically looking for an enemy and taking that enemy out. In case they notice a group of the opposing team, and this group does not notice them, this small patrol team must immediately go back and advise the rest of the team the location of the enemy.

The squad:

Make sure that if any enemy force is notice, and this force is the size of a squad, a similar sized squad should be dispatched to face the opposing team.

Lure them out:

The patrol should be sent out to attract the opposing team and entice them to be defensive. However, there is a risk when doing this as there is a possibility that a member of the opposing team could escape and be able to warn his own team mates. It is also a possibility that it might not happen, and victory could just as well be yours.

Ignore the enemy:

You could also make the choice to pretend that you have not seen the opposing enemy. The idea is that, if they did not see you, you are not a threat to them.

Get together everyone:

Make sure to gather all members of your team together then carefully, cautiously move up the side of the field that you think is less likely to be utilized by the opposing team. When you are there, try to hunt the enemy force and strike the opposing team from that side.

Basically, the best thing to do when outnumbered is to relax. This makes thinking easier and the action clearer.

Mark! You are it!

Paintball is a game where markers or guns are filled with non-lethal paint put in gel-like capsules which basically are used to shoot opponents. These markers are propelled by compressed gas.

Markers used in paintball evolved through the years - their use now is not the reason they were created years ago.

Markers for trails, trees and cows:

Believe it or not, the use of these markers started in the 70's when farmers and members of forest groups used them to mark trees as well as trails, and cattle. The guns used then were powered by gas. Then - whether by inspiration or boredom � the users of these guns began playing around and instead of aiming them at other objects, decided to use the guns on each other.

And then there was paintball:

It was in 1981 that a group of friends decided to play their own unique version of paintball. They were using same guns they were using to mark trees when they talked among themselves and decided to buy into a tree-gun manufacturing business. The guns were then modified to control the speed as well as the power of the marker.

They promoted the guns and markers to the public and "viola", the game of paintball officially began at a field near Rochester, New York, in 1982.

The first paintball marker:

Ironically, the first ever paintball marker was not called a paintball marker and was not even used for paintball. It was called a paint-pellet and was created by the Nelson Paint Company originally for the forest industry. It was invented by James Hale and the patent was approved on January 29,1974.

The first paintball gun:

The first and only gun designed especially for paintball was called Splatmaster was invented by a man named Robert Shepherd who was issued a patent on July 3,1985. Later on, markers know as electro-pneumatic guns were developed.

The first paintball marker that is washable:

A specially designed marker with a washable fluid placed inside of soft gelatin capsules was invented by a man named George Skogg: the patent was officially granted on January 6,1987. This special marker fluid is more precise when shot: when it hits something, it is brighter and more visible. It is easily washable with regular soap and water or detergent.

Paintball markers have become user and player friendly through the years. Who could imagine that what was used originally for cattle and trees could be enjoyed by many people as a game? Hooray for paintball!

Paintball: it is not a game, it is a cool war

Paintball is a game where there are two groups (teams) of players and each group's aim is to eliminate the opposite team via shooting paint balls at each other.

The following are the basic rules in playing paintball.

Follow the referee:

Paintball should have only one referee for each game. This referee who will start and end the game as well as stop it (in order to check for paint) and be the decision maker should any problems or game issues arise. Fortunately or unfortunately, any verdict issued by the referee � as in any other game � is final and cannot be repealed.

You are out:

A player is no longer in the game if he or she is shot by a paintball marker that cracks or splatters on him or her. This applies when the marker or pellet breaks anywhere on the player's clothes, equipment or gun. Take note that whether the shot came from a fellow teammate or from an enemy, the marked player is required to call out "DEADMAN" or to yell "OUT" in reference to themselves. They are required to immediately leave the field using the route that is the safest as well as shortest, all the while calling him self out.

You are in:

If a player is hit by a paintball marker and the marker does not crack or break, that player is still in the game. A player is also considered in the game if he or she is accidentally splattered by a paintball marker, especially if the splatter is caused by the paintball marker hitting a rock, a bush or tree. But this rule no longer applies if the player calls him or her self "OUT" or "DEADMAN" even if they have mistakenly thought that they were hit only discover that they were not. The rule says that they are still required to leave the field using the safest as well as shortest route.

Safety is the best policy

All players are required to wear protective clothing that covers the arms, neck and legs. "T" shirts are not allowed to be worn during the game. All players must have goggles as well and these cannot in any way, be removed during play.

Paintball is a game of strategy as well as quick thinking. But just like any other game, there are rules that need to be observed to make the game not only more challenging, fun, exciting, but most importantly fair.

Paintball: It's all about the Gun, Baby!

A paintball gun (also known as paintball marker) is used to mark opposing players with paint. It uses air (carbon dioxide) to force the paintball out of the barrel at the speed of about 300 feet per second. This will cause paintballs to break upon hitting somebody but will only cause mild bruising to a person. This could blind a person, though, thus making it a necessity to wear a face mask or eye protection such as goggles.

There are four types of paintball guns and they are classified according to their firing modes. These are pump action guns, semi-automatic guns, fully automatic guns and ramping-mode guns.

In the early days of paintball, all guns were pump action. Each shot would require the person wanting to shoot to manually pull back the bolt to let a paintball fall in front of it and then manually push forward the bolt to bring the paintball in the position to fire. This was excruciatingly slow when compared to other firing modes used today, but is loved by many people as it teaches the importance of a person's skill with his gun.

Semi-automatic guns were designed so that when the trigger is pushed down, a shot will be fired and the bolt moves back automatically to load the new paintball in position for the next trigger pull. This allows the player to increase firing frequency and accuracy because he will not have to manually pump the gun.

Fully automatic guns are those that will continue to fire paintballs as long as the trigger is held down. The Tippman SMG was the first to feature a fully-automatic gun.

Ramping-mode guns are guns that can fire up to 15 shots per second. This type of gun prevents abuse from semi-automatic guns or fully-automatic guns that can shoot more and can cause injury to other people.

These types of guns are used in different kinds of situations, usually to prove who the best player in a tournament is. Pump action guns promote using stealth and are desired by experienced players because of the challenge they present. Semi-automatic guns are used by players hoping to improve their shooting accuracy and since they do not have to pump every shot, they are able to concentrate more on their targets. Fully automatic guns are used by infantry and middle men in attacking another team's base. Ramping-mode guns are for controlled environments where there is a specific rule to prevent injury and other problems.

Winning Paintball as a Team

Paintball is a war game and like in real war, you are never alone. You have your friends fighting beside you and with the same spirit - wanting to win as much as you do.

Paintball is a tactical game. You have to know your team's strengths and weaknesses. As a rule, it is best to use your team's strength to win rather than trying to cover up your weaknesses. This does not mean that you will not care about your weaknesses: if you are disadvantaged because of it, then you have other days to learn how to change it. What really matters now is how to prevent the other team from exploiting your weakness and making it a turning point in your battle.

Paintball also requires your team to have a battle plan. Who will be the designated shooter (sniper)? Who will charge and start all the action for your team? These are just two of the different positions and strategies that your team will have to determine so that your team can win.

Paintball is designed to bring out the creative side in people. You have to make sure that your battle plan allows for a contingency plan for when mistakes happen. You are never really sure how your opponent will react when you stage a certain part of your plan. The sign of a great "general" is knowing the different plans that your opponent will make to counteract every thing you do. A general should not be rattled when every plan he has made has failed. He should be able to devise new plan in the middle of the fight.

Paintball also requires your team to be flexible. Just because you are not a designated hitter does not mean that you cannot do that to your opponents. Your team should understand each others job and make sure that when one of your teammates falls, there are others who can carry on the job he was doing.

Paintball requires good communication between teammates. You should have your own signs and you should learn to bond with your teammates so that you will know what he wants by just a look of the eye or nod of the head.

Paintball is also not just about winning as a team, it is also about experiencing losing as a team and experiencing all of the hardships of playing and surviving as a team. It is in learning as a group and bonding as brothers.

Paintball 101: The Importance of Stealth

Paintball is a war game. Firepower and manpower do matter. Firepower is the ability of a paintball gun to inflict a lot of paint on your opponents and the ammunition it can carry. However firepower is useless in the wrong hands. It is still manpower that will win teams their games.

Manpower is the ability of a player not to only play harder but to also play smarter in the field. This article tackles about stealth and how it can win games for you.

Stealth is the ability to blend with your surroundings. Using different techniques to achieve this, stealth will usually indicate who the "newbie" is in a paintball environment.

Stealth is about moving the right way. When you have to make a quick dash, it is best to just stick to paths where there are no twigs. Twigs are the worst things to step on as they will snap, break, and make noise. It is recommended that you take your time (when you still have it) and move slowly when going through a cluttered area.

Stealth is best accomplished when using the proper equipment. Shoes and clothing will help tremendously in minimizing the sound you create when moving. Shoes with soft soles are recommended as they make less noise than army combat boots because they have a natural sound absorption property that helps limit the sounds made while stepping.

Soft clothing will also be an advantage as coarse fabrics will create a lot of noise when brushing against branches and the foliage. It is great for crawling quietly to go to a desired place with a minimal amount of noise created.

Other things must also fit snug or tightly on your body. This includes harnesses and holsters. You should also avoid putting anything in the leg area since walking and running will cause it to make noise - this includes your reloads and ammunition.

There are also several techniques such as using colors that match the foliage of the battlefield: this will hide you and makes you virtually unseen (when not moving) by your enemies.

When you have to move, it is recommended that you learn how to crawl the proper way (and with the ability to still fire when needed).

Stealth takes a lot of time to learn properly. Even experienced players will make mistakes and with these mistakes they learn how not to do it!

The Secrets to Winning at Paintball

Most team sports require teamwork, skill and planning. This can be seen in the winning teams of sports like basketball, football and hockey. The same approach can be taken to make a very good paintball team.

The best way to become a championship team is to know how to play both as a team and individually. It starts at practice where the team will learn to play both offense and in defense.

War games are simulated to emulate the real thing. A fort can be made and some members selected to protect it while the other group attacks. After each game, an assessment must be made so that any mistakes made can be corrected to make the team more efficient.

Aside from conducting some exercises within the group, other teams can be invited to participate in a practice to sharpen the skills before a tournament.

There are several ways that the exercise can end: by capturing the flag, eliminating all the members of the other group or waiting until the time expires. A good way to train the participants to move swiftly during an offensive is by agreeing to a time limit before the exercise begins...

The members should rotate the roles of offense and defense during training exercise as both will have to be used in a real game.

Marksmanship should also be part of training. The members must be able to hit both stationary and moving targets since both are necessary in an actual game where both sides have limited ammunition.

Since the exercise usually lasts from 30 minutes to an hour, the team should make every shot count. The players should only fire when there is a clear shot available rather than not being able to fire when it matters the most.

Stealth is another element needed to win the game of paintball. By being able to sneak up on the enemy first, the team can attack the enemy position before the opposing forces can mount a counterattack.

Learning to communicate using hand signals and sounds will prevent the other team from knowing what the team's plans are. By practicing all of these drills and scenarios in practice, the group will be ready to take on anyone in the league.

The secret to winning at paintball is not rocket science; it just takes a lot of practice so that each person knows what to do which will pay off during competition.