|
         
| |
Tips for beginners
What
to watch out for as beginners?
Beginners always make a few mistakes
that everyone makes.
Here
are a few helpful hints:
 | The very
first rule is: never EVER take off your mask!!! I can't stress this enough.
It is very detrimental to your vision's health. A paintball at 280 feet per
second could pop your eye out of your head. Don't ever take your facial
protection off, except in designated areas.
| Make sure
you understand your gun and its limitations, whether a rental or your own.
Ask if you don't know.
| Paintballs
do not hurt when they hit. You won't even feel them till the day after. I
have found that paintballs that hit you and don't break hurt a little more
because they hit and bounce off. The time they are in contact with you is
shorter and thus the force is greater (impulse equation from physics
justifies this). When it does break it is in contact with you longer and is
cushioned by your skin, fat, etc.
| Wear
darker clothes, don't wear white. White is just too bright, you will get
killed.
| Wear some
type of boots or comfortable hiking/running shoes. I personally prefer
football or soccer cleats. I think cleats work the best for me. They are
comfortable, light, quick, and provide excellent traction in grass and mud.
A lot of paintball players are using cleats these days.
| Always be
honest. If you get hit and see the splat on you, please raise your hand and
exit the game. There is always another game to redeem yourself. I hate
people who try to wipe their paint off and think they can get away with it.
You only do that if you really suck. By the end of the day it will be
obvious if you suck.
| Don't ever
call an advanced paintball player a cheater. They hate that and take their
games really seriously. No matter what happens don't do this, you are asking
for trouble. That is how seriously some people take their game. They are
mostly very honest down to earth people. One time I did this and the guy
wanted to fight me.
| Don't be
afraid to ask or learn. With the speed of technology these days it is hard
for anyone to know everything about paintball.
| Always
appoint a team captain and follow his orders no matter what. This is the
key. The team captain does not have to be the most experienced or the
wildest or the most intelligent, but there has to be one captain. Follow
orders even if you think you have a better plan. Don't go for self glory. I
remember one time a young 9 year old played with us. The team captain told
him to hide behind some tires and stay there forever until it got really bad
or we won. It got really bad, our whole team was eliminated except for him.
The other team had no clue about him and 3 of them came marching in to take
the flag when he slowly jumped out and killed all of them. Obey your captain
even if it does not conform to your method of play.
| Keep your
eyes open. I have seen so many players gain ground and then quickly get
eliminated because they were not looking sideways. They go straight forward
and then are attacked from other players from the sides and even behind
them. This mistake is made so many times. It is a mistake even the most
advanced players make. It's not easy to look around. Our brains always focus
on one thing. Train yourself to look around as you run, hide, attack, and
take cover.
| Be alert
and never focus too much on one thing. Don't keep shooting at the same guy
behind the bunker over and over again. Move on and surprise him from the
side or another angle.
| Don't stay
in the same spot too long. If you are in a fort don't keep shooting from the
same side forever, its not productive. Go to the other end, go to the second
level. Move away from the bunker walk out unprotected and hold people down.
Don't stay put!
| 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 are all out.
| Never call
yourself dead if you are unsure. If you question whether or not a shot hit
you and splattered call a paint check and have the referee check if you are
dead yet. Don't just call yourself out because you felt a hit. Wait for the
referee to confirm. Always call paint checks on yourself if you are
unsure. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
