Improving your paintball play

It takes teamwork, awareness and strategy to clean up your competition on the field at paintball. Of these qualities strategy is the most important and who you are playing will determine which strategy is best to apply. Learning how to adopt tactics that can allow you to penetrate the opposition without leaving your own position open. It is not possible to guard the base attach and protect flanks at the same time so team work is crucial. It will take your awareness of your opponents position and thoughts to win. Like a game of chess you need to know your opponents abilities and their awareness and experience. Knowing their location and the environment for cover spots are fundamentals to a good result. Paintball is a game of outwitting your opposition and reacting fast to their movements.

The following tips will help you get a better edge on the strategy, teamwork, and awareness you need to take your game play to the next level:

1. Create a diversion by letting the opp see you at one position then hiding and moving fast to another position where you can get a clear shot. The op will be focused on where you were when they saw you not where you end up appearing. The faster you are at moving the more successful you will be at surprising them from a new location.

2. Just like in the movies “cover me” can work in paintballing. If you know where the enemy is hiding one team mate can focus attention on them to prevent you being shot by them while you sneak up on them for a tag. Be aware of the field layout though as if the op is not cornered they may move from their original position.

3. Keep an eye out of the whole area in front of you all times – not just where you are heading. Eat your carrots to get eye sight like a hawk and spot any sudden movements. The sooner you know where everyone is the more time you have to decide your next move.

4. Standing around in the same place will get you shot. The more you move the less aware your op are to your location. Run when you see the enemy is taking over and hide as soon as they appear. Getting flat on the ground is the best cover if you are too far away from a decent object to hide behind.

5. Move up the field at any possible chance when you know its clear. Be confident in attacking forward and do not hesitate.

7. Do not reveal your new position as soon as you get to it. Pause and survey the land for perhaps a better position. Take a look at your new angle and see what it offers. You may have found a lucky spot where snipering will clock up your kill count.

8. Keep it simple, you may feel like being Rambo and looking really cool but reality is you are more likely to be taken down. Getting shot while looking cool does not work. Take your time; remember its positioning and good shots, not athletic flips and rolls.

9. When guarding a base try to get some height. Climbing a tree is a good ideas as many people don’t look up and your camo is increased. But do not stay in the same tree for too long as the opp will get wise to where you are

10. Finally communicate with your teammates as much as possible, its ten times more easy to win as a team. Even if the opp hear you shouting info at each other they will not be able to react with it.

11. Make sure you have decent attire. Freely moving clothing is important, a good pair of fingerless gloves can give you a better grip. Check out army surplus stores as you will be surprised what suitable items they offer at much better prices than paintball specific merchants.

Airsoft

Airsoft has rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years. Traditionally it was used as a mean of undertaking training exercises for military and security forces. It popularity has grown due to the rising of recreational use such as corporate team building. Many of the scenarios used are very similar to those used by the military and security forces and it is generally found that the ‘skirmish’ sites as they known as run by ex-military or security personnel.


The firearms used in airsoft are sometimes confused with BB Guns. Airsoft weapons use plastic pellets and have muzzle velocities of less than 700 ft / Sec (FPS) on average, which is generally considered safe when used in a controlled environment, while BB guns utilise metal ammunition and shoot at higher velocities (up to, and over 1000 FPS), making them unsuitable for gaming and training purposes.

Paintball

Paintball is a game played usually in teams using special guns called paintball markers. These guns fire small pellets containing a coloured paint which marks an opponent. The games can vary as can the size of teams based upon the the location, terrain and objectives.  The game can be played indoors or outdoors with a variety of strategies used.

Paintballing has been around for over 30 years, however it is only over the past few years that its popularity has risen greatly, with more and more sites becoming established. The basic concept of paintball is played with a potentialy limitless variety of rules and variations, all of which are specified before the game begins. The most basic of all game rules is that players must attempt to accomplish a goal without being tagged with paintballs. When a player is shot, they must raise their marker to indicate that they are out, and leave the playing field. Depending on the agreed upon game rules, the player may return to the field and continue playing, or is eliminated from the game completely.