Paintball Tips

The Critically Important Fundamentals

Even if you forget everything else, remember these:

Don't ever remove your mask on the field, for any reason. If you're hit in the face while your mask is off, you will almost certainly lose your eye.
Always plug the barrel of your gun whenever you're in an area where others are not wearing their masks.
If you're hit, check yourself for paint. If it didn't break, you're still in. If you're not sure whether you're out, ask a teammate or yell "Paint check!" to the ref.
Don't ever wipe paint off yourself on the field. If you're tagged out, be a good sport and leave the field. The next game will start in less than 20 minutes.
Check your targets to make sure you're not shooting a ref, a teammate, or an eliminated player. If they have their barrel plug in, then they're out. Don't shoot.
Most fields have a 10 to 15 foot mercy rule. If your opponent is closer than that, yell "Surrender!". If he doesn't, then you can shoot at him once. If you miss, you suck.
Don't "overshoot" an opponent. At some fields, if you actually hit a person with more than 3 or 4 shots at once, you'll be called out as well.
Never give up. Whether you run out of air, paint or energy... don't ever stop or quit, you are still useful. No one has to know that you can't shoot. If all else fails, you can take an enemy out by tagging him with the end of your barrel.
Have fun.

Paintballs don't hurt unless they strike bare skin. Make sure to cover everything, using layers if possible.
Gloves are highly recommended, not only for protection from paintballs, but also from the hard ground. Wear something thin enough that you can still operate a trigger.
Camoflauge is nice, but it's not necessary. Any dark clothing is fine, just avoid bright colors that make you stand out. Medium to dark blue is much better than light green.
"Package protection" is recommended. Most players find a cup to be too restrictive; shoving a big winter glove down your pants usually does the trick.
Wear shoes that can get muddy or wet. Some like the protection of boots, but I generally prefer lightweight cleats.
You will probably want a change of clothes and/or shoes to wear home.

The field can provide everything you need to actually play: a mask, gun, paintballs, and compressed air/CO2.
Expect to pay about $50, give or take a bit, for the rental equipment and paint.
The mask will fit over your glasses, but if you have contacts, you should definitely wear them. Eyeglasses have a tendency to fog up.
Bring plenty of water to drink and a light snack like fruit, granola, or trail mix.

Paintball guns don't shoot nearly as far as you'd think. Optimal range is about 40 to 70 feet. When you think you're close enough to tag someone, get closer.
Paintballs don't like trees, leaves, branches, or even twigs. There will be many times that you can see an enemy quite clearly, but will be unable to get a shot through the scrub.
Of course, Murphy's Law applies: the branches that are blocking all your shots will let your enemy's through effortlessly.
Except when you are providing brief covering fire for a teammate, hurling paint at an opponent who is well-covered (or worse-- out of range) is a waste of money.
On the other hand, paintballs are inaccurate. When you get that golden opportunity, always fire in 2- or 3-shot bursts.
Hitting a moving opponent can be difficult. Sometimes it's better to determine what cover he's running to, and make sure a hail of paint is waiting there to greet him.
Paintballs on the ground adhere to the same five-second rule as dropped food. If you just dropped it, you can still use it if it's clean. But if you find a paintball just lying around, it has probably absorbed water and swollen, which will jam your gun.

Put cover between yourself and the enemy, but don't hide. Stay 5 to 10 feet away from your barricade so you can keep your eyes on the field without having to pop up like a mole.
Find a buddy to work with, and cover each other as you move. Use one man to pin down an opponent with fire while the other buddy moves around to his flank for a better shot.
Covering fire against an enemy bunker not only keeps his head down, but also makes a racket that will hide the sound of your movement to a new location.
Movement is the key to success, but don't forget to stop and observe, too.
Don't get tunnel vision. Look to your sides for opponents. You usually have better angles to hit an enemy positioned diagonally rather than directly in front of you.
Never underestimate the value of running away. If you're pinned down with more bad guys approaching, drop back to a better position.