#1 Should I buy a paintball gun and why?
Unfortunately some of the advice I gave out on this site might have been a little misleading… The advice I handed out previously was to go to some of the more popular paintball forums and ask some of the more seasoned paintballers what you should get. Apparently that’s only good advice if you have close to $500 to spend!
If you don’t have nearly $500 to spend on a paintball gun and you still want to own your own paintball gun and gear then the best thing you can do is head over to Walmart and buy yourself a paintball gun package. Alternatively you can also check out the paintball gun packages on sale at eBay by clicking this link: paintball marker packages on eBay. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with picking up a cheap paintball gun package at Walmart or on eBay. A lot of paintballers get their start that way because it’s inexpensive and you get everything you need in one package.
The paintballers that are typically handing out advice on paintball forums are usually more experienced players that play on tournament teams and such and a lot of these guys will argue that a better, more expensive paintball gun will make you a better player. While that may be the case that may also be a waste of money for you if you only plan on being a weekend warrior right? Like I’ve said on other posts before the key is to know where you are in your paintball playing “career” and buy a paintball gun accordingly. You won’t need a pro style paintball gun if you’re only going to be playing on the weekends every now and again. It’s very important when buying a paintball gun to factor in how much money you have available (obviously) and also how much time you have available to play the game of paintball. It’s not always a good idea to buy the best paintball gun available because you still have to buy all your other gear… Sometimes it’s just best and most economical to buy the best cheap paintball gun package your money can afford.
If you still want to buy “the best paintball gun” out there or you just want to start off with a good piece of equipment but you don’t have the cash to buy a brand new Ion or Tippman you may want to consider buying a used paintball gun. eBay has a huge selection of paintball guns and you can check some out here: used paintball guns. A good paintball gun from a good paintball manufacturer will last a long time so used paintball guns are also a good option for those looking to get started with paintball.
#2 Will I get hurt playing paintball?
Paintballs do sting a bit when they break on your bare skin so the best thing you can do prior to playing in a paintball game is to cover up as much of your skin as possible if you want to avoid any pain. A paintball mask or goggles are pretty much necessary to protect your eyes but personally I prefer and recommend a mask because it also protects your face and ears. But yes paintballs do sting/hurt a bit when you get hit with them on your bare skin so try to avoid that if possible.
#3 How do I get better at playing paintball with limited funds?
After you play in your first paintball match and you get acquainted with the types of moves you’ll need to excel on the paintball field you’ll realize that you can practice a lot of that stuff at home. Here’s what I did to practice a bit at home. I set up a few targets in a corner of my backyard and then I set out some makeshift bunkers out in front of those targets. I actually made some out of 2 x 4’s and plywood that were laying around but I’ve heard of folks using old couches and futons and such.
Basically you want to get accustomed to coming in and out of a crouched position and firing accurately when coming from behind a bunker. The more you do it the better and more accurate you get so make sure you get some practice in between games if you want to really improve. On the paintball field if you want to be really bad ass you’ll also have to learn how to crawl on your belly quickly and you’ll also have to be strong enough to push yourself off the ground and back onto your feet. So obviously there’s some level of fitness involved so some push ups and some cardio wouldn’t hurt. You don’t want to get all painted up because you’re out of breath do you?
Finally factor some playing time into your budget when you go shopping for a paintball gun. Nothing is going to help improve your game like going out and playing so get out there whenever possible. Also factor in your paintballs because paint isn’t free either. You should factor all of these things in when you’re creating a budget for your first cheap paintball gun package.
#4 What should I wear for my first paintball match?
Like I said above if you’re smart you’ll cover as much of your skin as possible. This means covering your legs and arms if at all possible. paintballs sting a bit so if you want to avoid pain at all costs then cover up. More importantly you’ll want to get at least some goggles to protect your eyes. Most paintball places will rent these out but you should call ahead and see if they also rent paintball masks. I recommend paintball masks because they not only protect your eyes but they also protect your face and ears. Trust me you don’t want to get hit with a paintball in the face or your ears so do whatever you can to get a hold of a paintball mask.
If it’s your first time out you’ll probably also want to pick up some elbow and knee pads. Like I mentioned above you’ll be doing some crawling to avoid getting hit and to stay below fire. If you don’t do this on a regular basis elbow and knee pads will save, well, your elbows and knees. Finally a lot of paintballers also recommend you get some gloves to protect your hands and knuckles.
#5 Any tips for my first paintball match?
The biggest mistake beginners make on the paintball field is they stay still and try to hide. What you don’t realize is that 1.) somebody may be watching you and 2.) you make an easy target when you’re sitting still so keep moving on the paintball field. Stay active and be aggressive. Move from bunker to bunker and seek out your opponents. It’s a lot harder to hit a moving target then to hit a stationary one. Also make sure you take plenty of water and some energy bars or something to munch on throughout the day.
