• AC Paintball’s Tips for Shooting

    paintball-1278899_960_720One of the most important skills you will use during an AC Paintball game is shooting. If you can’t hit your target, you won’t be able to eliminate your opponents or defend yourself. Becoming an accurate shooter can make you more valuable to your team. With this in mind, there are multiple aspects to think about when trying to improve your shooting skills. AC Paintball is here to help with these tips and aspects to think about when practicing and improving your skills.

    Choose the Right Marker

    The first step to making sure your shooting is accurate, is to choose the right marker. Every gun is a bit different. Some can shoot farther while others can rapid fire faster than others. They also come in different styles, weights, shapes, and more. When trying to choose the right gun for you, you should consider your skills, position, and the game you are playing.

    AC Paintball rents two different markers, the Tippmann Custom 98 Marker, and the Valken V-Tac SW-1 Marker. You can find a comparison of the two here: https://acpaintball.com/2016/04/28/tippmann-custom-marker-vs-valken-marker/. You can also find tips for choosing the right marker for different types of games in AC Paintball’s blog. By learning to choose the right gun, you can improve your ability to eliminate opponents and contribute to your team.

    When and How Often

    The next thing you should determine is when to shoot and how often. While firing your marker is fun, you don’t want to waste ammo. Firing your gun at the wrong time can also give away your position. When on the AC Paintball fields, try to be aware of who is around and what your team’s strategy needs you to do.

    The amount you should shoot depends on your position and in-game situation. For instance, if you are a sniper trying to take your one opponent, you may only want to fire one or two shots. However, if you are part of the infantry defending a frontman against multiple opponents, you will want to fire rapidly. You will need to analyze each situation individually and fire the amount you find appropriate. The more you practice at AC Paintball, the better you will get at making the right decisions quickly.

    Posture

    sideshotHaving the right posture can help improve your aim. During an AC Paintball game, your posture may be slightly different depending on if and where you are trying to hide and if you need to be ready to move quickly. For the most part, though, you should be in a comfortable position, facing forward as much as possible, and with your marker close to the center of your body. While certain situations may call for you to shoot in a different position, this posture will typically provide the best results.

    Aim

    Once you have decent posture, you can aim your marker. Before you start your AC Paintball game, it is a good idea to take a couple practice shots. This way you can get a feel for your marker and learn how to adjust your aim for the game. To determine approximately where your paintball will go, look along the top of the barrel.

    During the game, try to observe how your gun is positioned and where the paintball goes. Try to continually learn and adjust so you can improve your overall accuracy.

    Adjusting to Elements

    The different types of southern New Jersey weather can also affect your ability to shoot accurately. For instance, rain can dissolve the outer coating of the paintball which causes it to leave the barrel and fly differently. Cold weather can also cause the velocity of the paintball to fluctuate. When the weather is affecting your shooting, it is important to take extra care when adjusting your aim.

    For more tips on adjusting your game to weather conditions, check out this AC Paintball blog: https://acpaintball.com/2017/02/20/adapting-your-paintball-game-to-the-weather/.

    Practice

    Once you determine what shooting aspects you want to work on, all that is left to do is practice. AC Paintball offers five different courses you can practice on. This includes both Woodsball and Speedball courses. If you would like to schedule a game, you can do so here: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/. You may also want to consider signing up for AC Paintball’s yearly membership. This way you can save on paintballs as you practice.

  • How to Improve Your Paintball Aim and Accuracy

    target-practice-65647_960_720There is nothing like the feeling of hitting your target in one shot. It makes you feel powerful and skilled. The more accurate your aim is the more paintballs you can save and the more helpful you can be to your team. When your aim is good, you can conserve your paintballs. With the money you save on ammo, you can soon afford an extra session at AC Paintball in Williamstown, New Jersey.

    Accuracy is one of the most important skills a paintball player needs. If you can’t hit your target, you will have difficulty eliminating your opponents. Check out AC Paintball’s aiming tips so you can contribute more to your team’s victory.

    Practice

    The best way to improve any skill is to practice. Go to a shooting range or find another safe place to practice. You can also practice by playing more games at AC Paintball. Start with a stationary target and an average distance. Once you get good with that, you can try shooting at different angles and distances. After a while, you can try moving targets.

    You may not notice increased ability right away, but it you keep practicing you will get better. Your teammates likely will too.

    Choose the Right Marker

    On the day of your AC Paintball game, the first thing you need to do is choose the right marker. Different guns shoot differently. Some are more accurate, shoot more rapidly, or shoot further. You will want to choose the marker that will compliment your skills. This will help you succeed in your position.

    Typically longer and slimmer barrels are more accurate. You will also want to make sure the paintballs fit well in the barrel. Keep in mind that guns with attachments, may make heavier. This can hinder your ability to run and hold up the gun for a long time.  More weight can also make it difficult to distribute weight. This can affect your accuracy.

    If you are renting a gun from AC Paintball, you have two choices. These are the Tippmann Custom 98 Marker, and the Valken V-Tac SW-1 Marker. Both are fairly matched in accuracy, but the Tippman has more of a recoil. This can affect your accuracy when firing multiple shots in a row.

    Test Your Marker Before the Game

    tippmann paintball markerBefore you start your AC Paintball game, you will want to test your marker. Make sure that it is clean. Dirt in the barrel can change the direction and speed of the paintball.

    You can also test how your marker fires. Find a safe place to fire with no people around. Then pick a target and fire at it. Watch where it goes. If it doesn’t fly completely straight, adjust your aim and try again. Keep testing until you figure out how to adjust your aim so that each shot is more accurate.

    Align Your Marker with Your View

    Another helpful technique for aiming is to line up your marker with your eyes. When you don’t center the gun with your body, it is more difficult to judge angles. By centering it, you can help ensure the paintball flies where you want it to go. Be careful, though, if your marker recoils a lot it may fly back toward your face. Although you are wearing a mask, you still don’t want to hit yourself in the face.

    If parts of your marker block your view, tilt it slightly to the side so you can see. Try to keep it as centered as possible.

    Have Patience and Relax

    Some AC Paintball players get so excited that they forget to take the time to aim. If an opponent jumps out, your first instinct is to start shooting in their general direction. Whether they see you right away or not, the sound of your shooting will alert them of your position. Then they will start firing back at you. If they are an accurate shooter, you will be out of the game.

    It only takes a few extra seconds to aim. You just need to have patience and keep your focus. If you have dozens of thoughts cluttering your mind, it will be difficult to hit your target. You might be surprised just how much a little extra attention can improve your accuracy.

    paintball-1477263_960_720Check Your Posture

    In any sport, coaches teach players the proper positions and movements to shoot accurately. In a paintball game, posture will affect your aim. If you are in an awkward position, it can be difficult to angle your gun and fire straight. The best posture is with your chest and toes pointed toward your target. Center your gun with your body.

    Moving Targets

    During an AC Paintball game, players are always on the move. Your target won’t always be standing still. A common technique for moving targets it to lead them. Judge your target’s speed and keep your gun pointed ahead of them. Predict where your opponent will be when you pull the trigger. Then figure out how long it will take the paintball to reach your target. Combine your calculations and fire at just the right moment.

    Hitting a moving target will take plenty of practice. However, if you master this skill, you will become a valuable player.