Do you want to learn how to play paintball for the first time? If so, this guide for beginners is for you! 

Playing paintball for the first time doesn’t need a paintball player to be an athlete or have any experience with paintball games or any other sports. All it takes is a couple of friends or newbies and some basic gear to get started.

In this guide, I will tell you the basics of the game, including how to get started, what equipment you’ll need, and how to play safely. I’ll also provide paintball tips on how to improve your skills and explain the different strategies to survive long enough.

So whether you’re a beginner or a veteran player, this guide has everything you need to get started!

How To Play Paintball For The First Time

Paintball is an exciting and challenging sport that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age or physical ability. Let’s learn everything you need to get started playing paintball, from picking the right gear to mastering the art of tactical combat. Ready to get your adrenaline pumping? Scroll down.

Get ready With Proper Clothing:

As we know, paintballs are gelatin capsules filled with colorful food-grade jelly; when they burst, paint spreads all around and on our clothes too. So our first concern will be wearing clothes that we don’t care about if they get damaged. Then, we have to choose clothes that can fully cover our body, like full shirts and full pants. And to protect sensitive areas like the neck, you can wear a muffler or turtle neck shirt or sweatshirt. Read more about the clothing here. 

Grab Essential Gear:

After you have dressed up properly, it’s time for protection. Just wearing thick clothes is not enough to save yourself from paintball injury. You have to wear armor like hand gloves, knee pads, elbow pads, paintball masks or helmets, goggles, etc.  Investing in a good pair of shoes for better traction on the paintball field is also essential. And if playing in a tournament, players may not avoid wearing chest armor as well. 

Know The Rules:

Just like football or cricket, paintball has its own rules and regulation as well. Don’t be worried; once you reach the field, the authority will make you understand the rules and regulations. Some of the common rules of the games are –

  • The game begins when the referee blows the whistle and shout “game begins.”
  • While the game goes on, you can’t ever deny the referee’s words; whatever he says, you have to obey them.
  • If you get hit with a paintball, and they break on your, you are eliminated. Then you have to give a signal that you are out and go to the dead zone. But if the paintball bounces and doesn’t break, you can continue the game onto the field.
  • If opposing players are very near to you in the middle of a game, you should give them a chance to surrender before attacking, and the same goes for you. Because it hurts, so, it’s better to avoid getting dirty and try not to hurt someone. 
  • Though you are eliminated, you must not remove the goggles if the referee doesn’t tell you to do so or until the game finishes. Paintballs can come and attack from anywhere, even when you are not playing but in the game zone. 

You can learn more about the paintball rules and regulations here. 

Communicate With Team:

Teamwork is required to win a paintball match. Going solo may be enticing, but there’s a good chance that you’ll fail in your attempt. Working as a part of a team boosts the game’s excitement, and a well-coordinated plan will make your squad unstoppable on the field.

Be Strategic:

Though paintball is a physical game, there is still a chance to show your talent to other players on the field. You can make your own strategy, like when to slow down and when to attack, how to give a signal to the team members without making a sound, who will go forward if someone is attacked, and lots more.  Remember, you can’t win by sitting and waiting for the other team to shoot at you. You need to push up, shoot, and then move on to the next spot. If someone gets hit in a position on the field, don’t fill that spot because someone else has probably got their eye on it!

What Should I Know Before Going Paintballing?

We’ve compiled a list of things you should know before you start playing paintball.       

  • Check the paintball marker and the hopper whether it’s working properly or not. Then fill your hopper with paintballs and get ready to go in the field for the first time.
  • Put on some Dickies or jeans, a shirt, then a long sleeve shirt on top of that. Don’t forget your gloves. Put a scarf or muffler over your neck. Boots or spikes are OK. However, beginners should wear boots.
  • Get a sweat-wicking headband and use a beanie to prevent perspiration.
  • On the ground, keep your mask on at all times. Same with goggles. Never remove your mask or goggle for any reason. Even if you’re hit in the face, and it’s bleeding, or you’re feeling faint or dizzy, keep your goggles on. Don’t remove them until you walk off the field.
  • You should absolutely bring water with you. Also, bring snacks or lunch.

How Do You Survive Paintball?

By understanding the tactical challenges you’ll encounter in the game of paintball and ways to overcome them, you can survive longer on the paintball battlefield and have more fun. Let’s get to know them —

  • You’re not just a lone wolf. Instead, you’re part of a pack in paintball. That is why, when teams have been formed, and a basic game plan has been created, partner up with another teammate.
  • Plus, communication between players is essential to the game. Start learning some basic hand signals so that your team can communicate without needing words. Also, using hand signals to communicate with your buddies might come in handy, perhaps saving you from elimination.
  • Moreover, you must have a vision of 360 degrees and be able to quickly form a strategy based on what you see. You’ll surely survive longer if you can practice it actively in the gameplay.
  • It’s important to mention that you should avoid attacking someone head-on. It’d be best if you’re able to attack from an angle that they’re not expecting, like from behind or the side.
  • Further, they never huddled together behind a tree or bunker, instead spread out. In paintball, you can only win if you stay alive. So, to survive and win, you need to be ready to shoot going on around and might get shot as well. 

These fundamental abilities are what you need to grasp in order to live longer as a beginning. You’ll gradually build your playstyle, strategies, and winning “sixth sense”!  

What to Do After Getting Eliminated?

If you are eliminated, you must relocate to the “dead zone.” This location is mostly placed to the back of a protective net; however, it usually depends on the terrain. When you’re eliminated and heading to the dead zone, never remove your mask.

After Finishing the Game

After the end of the game, all participants must place their barrel plugs or covers on their paintball guns. Upon departing the field, you can now remove the mask. 

Until you run out of paintballs or the field turns off, you are free to play as many rounds of games as you choose. Additionally, you’ll get a little opportunity to relax before the start of another game.

Is It Hard to Play Paintball?

No, playing paintball is not hard at all. As long as you are properly prepared with paintball gear and know the essentials, playing paintball can be a lot of fun. That’s why it’s one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. 

Does paintball hurt bare skin?

Yes, paintball hurt on bare skin. Though paintball is a safe game, if you don’t wear proper clothing and safety gear, you can get bruises or welts. Because paintballs are shotted at high speed (260 to 300 feet per second), so when they hit bare skin, they cause pain. 

Do paintballs hurt when they hit you?

Yes, when you get hit by paintballs, it’ll hurt. However, the ball’s speed and the intensity of your injuries vary depending on whatever region of your body is struck. No one is allowed or must not shoot at more than 300 FPS to avoid serious accidents.

How does it feel to get hit by a paintball?

To put it simply, the first hit will sting, but after that, you’ll feel practically nothing.

Where does paintball hurt the most?

If specifically, paintball hits your neck, hands, thighs, and top of the head; you’ll feel excruciating pain. So, don’t forget to wear armor, gloves, scarf around the neck.

Conclusion

Now you can see being a paintballer is not as difficult as it seems. To sum it all up,   paintballing can be a real blast. But that doesn’t mean you should go in blind.  Prepare properly before stepping into the field so that you don’t get injured or embarrassed when playing with your friends!

After finishing this game, do not forget to look at where you are shotted and how much injury it has done. If needed, take medication and learn from mistakes, and apply them in the next game.   

Have a blast!