Paintballing Tips Tricks ...

In the last two sections, we have covered a number of fundamentals that will improve your game. This last part is the candy of paintball. Sweet nuggs of info that are instantly gratifying. The next info came at a price so I hope you appreciate it. That price is what I call tuition. Every time I make a mistake, I call it tuition. I learned from it.

I wish I could take credit for all these. I'm merely stating everything I read and was told as I learned. So on to you young Jedi.

Play the Wire

The wire, line, or tapes are all confusing names for the side boundary. The wire is my favorite so that's what you will now use!

When I started playing, I was always told take the wire. The expert told me that for a reason. He knew that the wire has a tactical advantage. If you get next to the wire you only have to defend half as much area as everyone inside of you. NO one can shoot you from out of bounds. That's your clear side.

NOTE If you take the wire, you have to keep the wire. You are the end of the line. If they break by you, your team is all but done. If trouble arises, yell for help. It's better than getting painted. It also allows your team to know that they are attacking there. If you do catch a paintball in the puss, your team was a warned.

The wire is usually the road less traveled. One out of four times you will get no resistance. Two out of four times you will face an attack. The are odds are with you though.

Every wire has a trail next to it. Don't walk on the trail. The trail is were they expecting you to walk. Get dirty in the heavy brush.

Use all your assets

If there is loose brush around you can set stuff in front of you. Here in Seattle I can always find a good tree limb to setup. The idea of cover in paintball is not always a solid object. I love the spring. The tall grass makes for great cover. The paintball is not a bullet. It is not aerodynamic. If it hits the tiniest object, its trajectory is thrown way off. The most frustrating thing to your opponent is when he can see you and his gun should reach. That grass or sticker bush just wont allow it. Expect to catch a lot of splatter. Odds are you will be okay. Bridges are also a great spot to shoot from. People have a deep-rooted, sub-conscience fear of trolls. Sit under a bridge sometime. No one will bother you. You are the troll make them pay to cross.

Communicate

The biggest problem with newbies is that they will get eliminated quietly. The rest of team still expects them to be there. If you need help yell for help. It serves many purposes. The biggest reason is that I will come and save you. If you are one on one with someone, get another teammate. Now it's two vs. one, that is good play. That kind of teamwork is what wins games.

Use hand signals. Action Pursuit Games has done a number of good articles on hand signals. Look them up. The other part of communication is asking questions. If you don't know what to do, ask. I have never seen an experienced paintballer not give a suggestion. It strokes our ego. You thought enough of me to ask me what to do. That is flattery.

Learn by Example

If you are serious about paintball, you are going to have to learn a lot. The best way to do this is ask an expert on your team if you can tag with him. Follow the leader is about the only way to get a live example of what to do.

The idea that you can run onto the field and channel Rambo is false. Rambo would have never made it 2 minutes at my field. The first year I played, I followed the studs. It gave me someone to learn from. It also kept me alive a little longer. After a while, one of the guys I followed was impressed enough with me that he invited me to play in a tourney with his team. That is a great way to get started.

Think Opposite

This is a new philosophy. I learned it from Sienfeld. George had a long string of bad luck, 35 years worth. His revolutionary idea was to do the opposite of what he would normally do. This got him a girlfriend, job with The Yankees, and his own apartment. Not bad.

This works well in paintball. If you go to the same spot three times and meet an opponent at that, spot each time. The chances are your opponent will not be there the fourth time. If enemy is painting you to easy, do the opposite. This idea takes you outside your head for a minute. It makes you think in a non-conforming manner.

Take risks

Risks are what change the flow of a tight game. If your team has no advantage, you have to "make" one. Getting that bunker, rushing for the flag, taking out the Angel that has your teamed pin. These are all risks that will change the tide of the game. Even if you do get hit, you will have shaken up the field allowing other players to make an opportunity.

Take calculated risks. Do not sprint from the start to their flag. That would be dumb. The only risk worth taking is one you can make.(read last line again) Before you move, always consider how much of a risk you're taking. You are more valuable if you can still shoot, so don't get eliminated. A risk is best explained by gambling. If you bet 5 bucks, you win back 5 bucks. If you bet 1000 bucks, you can win 1000 bucks. You can also lose 1000 bucks.

Paintball is a sport that seems to be goal oriented. You play with the hopes that someday you get sponsored. I have played for seven years. The only free thing I have gotten is one case of paint. You should never play paintball for a sponsorship. You play to win and have fun. The sponsors will follow. I laugh at the team of newbies that tries to get free markers from manufacturers. They have only played one tourney, took 4th out of five, and have no future tourney plans.

As for me, I did want a gun named after me, ala Bob Long. I finally went to the local airsmith and had him anodize and etch my signature series gun model on it. The BOSS LP. Boss being my nickname and LP being my low pressure Spyder. It is as close as I am gonna get for a while.

In the last three sections, we have covered the fundamentals of shooting, movement and tricks of the game. This is what makes a good paintballer. The marker is only as good as the person shooting it. What that means is that an Angel can not shoot through a tree. Nor does it make a good shield. Do not get intimidated by the experts. Part of there game is a silent intimidation. Once you put some paint on an expert, you will lose you inhibitions.

By Jason "Boss" Morton

Original Article available at paintball.com