The Rules of Paintball
Unlike “Fight Club” not only can you talk about paintball, you’re encouraged to do so. What good is a fierce game of paintball if you can’t relive your battlefield triumphant (or defeat!)? The rules of paintball are pretty simple. It’s basically capture the flag, but with paintball guns. Two teams divide up a course or terrain. Two flags are planted somewhere in that course. The teams then scatter and attempt to capture that flag without getting “killed.” First team to return to their base with the opposing team’s flag is crowned the victor. Plenty of strategy goes into every game. As long as you’re equipped with the proper paintball gear, you might just outlast the others.
The definition of a paintball kill can vary between games. Some players like to have a single hit qualify as a kill while others specify a chest or head shot as the kill. Either way, you can count on being somebody’s target during the game. That’s why your paintball gear needs to offer you the highest level of protection.
With paintballs flying in every direction, you definitely want to protect your head and face. This is the most vulnerable spot on your body and can stop you cold if you’re hit without a special paintball mask. It is conceivable that you could wear an old motorcycle helmet and be protected. But those helmets were designed for riding not combat. The paintball game masks are sleek and aerodynamic providing the maximum amount of head coverage while still allowing you an open field of view.
The most fun had with paintball games is when you can play outdoors. Any swatch of woods becomes the perfect paintball zone. Playing outdoors means the potential for a lot of tumbling and rolling through the brush. The padding you’ll have on paintball jerseys and pants are perfect for this type of physical activity. They’re also perfect to absorb a direct hit from a pellet. You’ll still feel it, but it won’t be that bad.
What’s great about the new generation of paintball gear is that is can be customized to suit your personality. You can go bold with bright colors or go for the undercover camouflage vibe. Either way, your paintball gear becomes your uniform that can be worn in battle after battle. Your best friend might be your paintball gun, but when you take a couple of hits you’ll also be extremely grateful for the rest of your paintball gear.