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Ron Fowler said it feels like being hit with a wet towel. Bryan Vasaris said it’s like being snapped with a rubber band or stung by a bee. Being shot by a paintball gun doesn’t sound very fun. So why is paintball one of the fastest growing sports in America, according to the National Sporting Goods Association? “It’s a stress relief, because you can go out and shoot at people and not dangerously hit them,” Vasaris said. “But it’s also being with a group of guys that you like to hang around with.”

The most commonly played paintball game is “capture the flag.” There are rules variations, but the object is for a team to capture the opposing team’s flag while protecting its own. Players eliminate opponents by shooting them with their paintball guns.
The games can be played outside in an open field or forest, or inside at a specially designed facility with inflatable bunkers and other obstacles. “It’s not the hide-and-seek game everyone thinks,” Vasaris said. “It’s really action-packed and fast-paced.” Players use carbon dioxide- or nitrogen-powered guns that fire thin, gelatin capsules filled with non-toxic paint – the “paintballs.”
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Having the best gear helps having an advantage over your opponent when playing paintball. Little things like lighter vests, goggles, helmets, gloves and of course your gun. If you take your paintball seriously you’ll know what I’m on about. Having lighter gear means more movability, more energy and smarter thinking. But you must choose your gear carefully some paintball gear looks good but in actual fact could slow you down or won’t provide you with the stealth or accuracy you will need to win the game.

How can you tell which gear is right for you. Well it will all be determine by your level of game play if you are a beginner start of with the basic rented gear. Doing this gives you a better idea about the gear associated with paintball. Playing with rented paintball gear for the first time will provide you with information on which things are uncomfortable, to heavy or just won’t fit you right. This is a great way to find out about paintball gear and the way the game is played.

Experienced Players know that paintball guns are an important factor. Prices can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. So let’s talk about paintball guns there are hundreds of different guns on the market but which ones give you that big advantage. Obviously having a lighter gun will increase your moveability but what about the length of the gun barrel? In my opinion the ideal length of your paintball gun should be around 8 to 14 inches having a barrel any longer really doesn’t provide any advantages. It does not give you more accuracy, makes movability a lot harder and of course the gun it self will be heavier. Take your time when finding a paintball gun ask other gamers which gun they prefer best for there style of game.

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This question is bound to stir debate and controversy amongst the most ardent of airsoft or paintball fans.

Both airsoft and paintball are both hobbies based on replica firearms and wargames. Is this unhealthy? That depends moreso on the person themselves rather than the hobby. An interest in pursuing a hobby that involves weaponry only becomes unhealthy if taken to extremes – which is true of most things in life. Paintball and airsoft are not morbid hobbies and only run the risk of being dangerous when participated in by dangerous people.

Paintball itself is a more mobile sport. It requires a certain level of physical fitness, mobility and skill – if you paintball then you gotta be able to move fast. The weapons themselves are functional and are only designed to serve the purpose of the sport as opposed to looking good. Paintball rifles are designed to take a real beating when it comes to their use. Paintball fans fall into the ‘extreme sport’ category and enjoy the pure adrenaline of each paintball match and are driven by the desire to win.

Airsoft is a somewhat different sport. The guns used in airsoft are both conversation pieces and are also functional sports ‘weapons’. Airsoft rifles and pistols are capable of firing both small plastic pellets and paint filled pellets so are useful both in the sport itself and also for backyard target practice.
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My 12 year old son and 2 of his friends competed as a team in one of their first paintball tournaments this weekend. They were considerably younger and inexperienced than any of the other teams. However, several people participating in the tournament did some amazing things to encourage this young team.

- A paintball gun one of the boys was using stopped working properly during the tournament. A participant loaned his guns so all 3 boys could continue to compete as a team in the tournament.
- Several of the referees and competitors from the other teams said words of encouragement to the boys throughout the day.
- As participants watched the team play each game, they would tell them tips on how they could improve.

The result of this encouragement had several positive outcomes.

- The boys improved with each game they played. The encouragement and tips helped them play a better game.
- Instead of feeling defeated after a loss, they discussed what worked and what needed improving. It would have been easy to feel winning was hopeless and give up. The encouragement and tips provided by others kept them motivated.
- They won their final game!
- They are looking forward to participating in future paintball tournaments.
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