Paintball Tips for Beginners

Paintball tips are one of the things every beginner needs. One of the toughest things about being a beginning paintball player is not knowing the ropes or where to start. The following paintball tips are given in the hope of helping a beginning paintball player get past that first awkward stage.

This is not exhaustive, but should help. If you are an experienced paintball player, keep these in mind to share with the next greenhorn you encounter on the field, assuming the greenie is on your team, of course!

One thing to remember before you even leave the house to head out to the paintball field is to wear darker clothes, camouflage if you have it. At the very least, don't wear white or other bright colors. You can be seen too easily and it is a good way to get shot early every time.

Make sure you wear clothes that cover your arms and legs. In the heat of playing a scenario or a battle, paintballs don’t usually hurt when they hit you. You probably won't even feel them till the day after. But they can leave welts, and even just a bit of fabric can be at least of some help.

When you are put on a team, there will usually be a team captain assigned. Make sure you follow his orders, no matter what. This will be key to a victory strategy and can determine if you are invited back. If there is not one, or your whole group is new, make sure you appoint one. There must be organization on the field if you hope to win.

I have seen times when a captain has told a new person to keep their head down and not come up unless an emergency. The ones who listen sometimes find themselves “forgotten” by the enemy and have been known to win the game for the team. The captain, especially if experienced has reasons for asking things of people. It is very important to follow the instructions.

Always be honest. If you get hit and have a paintball splat on you, raise your hands and exit the game. You can always get another shot next game. If you are caught not signaling yourself out when you are shot, you will be banned from the field, maybe forever. You want to see your shots getting credit, make sure you give your opponents the same courtesy.

Even though you must be honest about getting hit, if you are not sure if the paintball splat is large enough to kill you, or you are not sure the ball broke because it is on your back or where you cannot see, do not call yourself dead. Call for a paint check and have a referee call you dead. If you call yourself dead, you are dead, whether the shot was a legal kill or not. Be honest, but when in doubt call for a referee.

Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings. It is easy to just see the enemy in front of you that is firing on you, but in many cases, that is just cover for the guy sneaking around the side. Paintball is a very active sport, but it requires as much brains and attention as it does athletics. Make sure you are always alert and foused on more than one place.

Never stay in the same spot too long (unless the captain has ordered it). If you constantly fire form the same position, you have given your position away. Move, move, move. Keep the enemy guessing and never give them a chance to know exactly where you are or where you will be.

Don’t give up. You may be out of paint, you may have no air left, but remember your enemy doesn’t know that. Just being alive could keep the enemy pinned down long enough for a teammate to go in for the kill or the objective. If you haven’t been killed, you are an asset to the team. Always keep going.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The vast majority of paintball players will be very happy to see a new face on the field. They will give paintball tips to you as well and you will find almost all of them to be very friendly and helpful. Most important of all, have fun. Paintball is a sport, after all. Enjoy it and treat it as such, and it can provide you with many years of enjoyment and lasting friendships.