• Convincing Your Friends to Play Paintball

    Paintball is a team sport. Without a team, you are just practicing hitting a target. There are two main ways to find a team: you can join an existing team or you can build your own. Joining an existing team can ensure that your teammates share your passion for paintball. However, joining teams of pros can seem intimidating when you are fairly new to the sport.

    Building your own team allows you to recruit people you already know and enjoy being around. The tricky part is convincing them to join you. Therefore, AC Paintball has created this guide to help you convince your friends and family to play paintball.

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    Bring Friends to AC Paintball

    When you are trying to get someone interested in something, you need to tend to their needs and concerns. You should make their paintball experience as convenient as possible. If you have extra equipment, let them borrow it. Give them tips so they know what they are doing. Choose a convenient location to play. If you live in Southern New Jersey, AC Paintball is a local, friendly, and safe place to play.

    Show Them Your Passion

    If they want to learn more before they decide, let them watch you play first. If they see you having fun, it will inspire them to have fun too. Playing paintball is exhilarating. It is a great sport for an adrenaline junkie. Hitting your target gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Hiding and sneaking keep you in suspense. Winning the game is an achievement. If you can get your friend to experience your passion, they will likely want to join you.

    Communicate the Benefits

    People often don’t do something unless there is something in it for them. Paintball has a variety of benefits. All you have to do is find a few that you think your friends would be interested in. Connect paintball to something they want, and you will drive them to play with you. Here are some benefits:

    • Health – The running gets your blood pumping and strengthens your heart.
    • Build Muscles – After a while, you will grow muscles. This can make you look good, feel good, and get injured less.
    • Stress Relief – Paintball is a safe way to get your aggressions out. The exercise releases tension and having fun with your friends promotes laughter.
    • Feeling of Belonging – Everyone wants to have a purpose and feel important. Being on a team can help you feel like you belong.
    • Improves Confidence – The more you play, the better you become. The better you become, the more confident you will be.
    • Being Outside – Nature is healing. If you enjoy being out in nature, playing at one of AC Paintball’s outdoor courses in southern New Jersey will make you happy.

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    Ask Them to Bring Their Friends

    If your friend had been feeling lonely, paintball can give them some social action. Paintball is a social game. You are constantly communicating with your team, strategizing together, and watching each other’s back. A team of friendly players can help feel supported. If you have a small group, ask your friends to invite their friends. This will help them have fun and give you more players for more fun.

    If you are already part of a team or group, recommend an outing at AC Paintball. If anyone has objections, you can use these tips to convince them. Discuss how paintball promotes teamwork, is a bonding experience, and relieves stress. After you play, you may find more coworkers or teammates that want to play with you.

    Ease Their Fears

    One of the biggest concerns people have about paintball is the pain. They worry about getting hurt. You will likely need to ease many of the fears they may have. To do so, you need to show them that they have some control. Book a private game at AC Paintball. This way you can set up and enforce specific rules that make the player feel better. You can also offer them a position that doesn’t get hit much. If they are still nervous, help them find good padding so that getting hit doesn’t hurt as much. Show them that getting hit does not hurt as bad as they think. Help them to push past their fears, and soon you may have a new paintball partner.

    August 1, 2016

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  • Paintball Strategy Tips for Beginners

    texture5Everyone is a paintball newbie at some point. There are many things that players can only learn from experience on the field. However, just because you are just starting out doesn’t mean you should always have to lose! I want to share some key pieces of paintball strategy advice to speed up your learning process. New players should not have to be at a disadvantage when facing more experienced players. Put these strategy tips into practice and surprise your teammates and opposing players!

    1. Don’t Give Away Your Position Too Soon

    Always evaluate the risk of giving away your position before you shoot. As soon as you fire, expect every nearby player to immediately spot you and shoot back. Paintball guns can be pretty loud! It’s worth it if you think you have a pretty good chance of shooting someone out.

    You don’t want to waste paint or risk revealing your position by firing at opponents that are too far away or covered. Stay quiet and work with teammates to move into a better position to increase your chances of actually shooting out the other player.

    Another reason to shoot at a nearby opponent is to cause a distraction so that a teammate can safely move into a new position. Your attempted shot may also keep that opponent in that position so that they become vulnerable. Teamwork is the name of the game!  Though you might get shot out in the process, your teammate is now in a much better position to eventually shoot that opponent out.

    2. Look for Opponents But Don’t Let Them See You

    You have a huge advantage if you spot a hidden player before they see you. Remember to scan the field quickly and quietly to search for opposing players. You will learn how to do this quicker and quicker with experience. Do not look down too long or become unconscious of your surroundings. It only takes a second for someone to notice you when you look away and then you may be quickly ambushed by the other team! Even if another player does spot you first, staying aware of the space around you will allow you some time to react and run or seek cover.

    3. Hide in Spaces with Good Coverage

    Seek out hiding spots with good coverage so that you never expose more of your body than you have to. Those that have played on the field previously may have an advantage when it comes to familiarity with the field. New players should always walk around the field before gameplay to look for good spots if the rules allow.

    When moving out of cover to scan the field, be careful not to reveal too much of your body. Nearby opponents are more likely to notice your full body than just your head and arms.

    Another smart strategic move is to frequently change up the ways you move out of position. If you suspect that an opponent has spotted you, don’t attack directly from your current position. Change it up and run around the bunker to shoot from the opposite side if opportunity allows. Surprising the other players by popping up from an unexpected position may be enough to give you the upper hand.

    dualsideshot4. Communicate and Use Teamwork

    Paintball is first and foremost a team sport and working together can make or break a game. Even highly skilled players can be bested by beginners that have superior communication. Talk before the game to establish some type of strategy or plan. Figure out who should defend certain parts of the field and where each player should hide. Even the simplest of plans can help you team work together more efficiently.

    During the game, communication can help your team execute plans. Let your nearby teammates know if you spot an opposing player or if you want to ambush someone. If you’re ready to make a run for it, let your teammates know so they can provide coverage for you. Tell your team when you shoot someone out so they can keep track of how many players are left.

    Sharing this collective knowledge is what puts your team ahead and helps you win. However, make sure to keep it discreet and quiet so that the other team does not overhear.

    5. Don’t Make Yourself Vulnerable to an Ambush

    Playing it safe and hanging back too much won’t result in a very fun game. However, moving too quickly or rashly can expose you to unnecessary ambushes and cause you to get shot out early. The worst case scenario is a wall of paint immediately fired in your direction. Even if you aren’t fired at instantly, you will probably be spotted by everyone on the opposite team. They will soon plan an ambush or drive you into poor position. If this does happen, be sure to yell for your teammates. Maybe they can help you out of the position or provide covering fire.

    A better idea is to take a few moments to think of a plan. Don’t play it too safe, but don’t move too recklessly either. Make a conscious decisions about your position and always try to think ahead. This is something that you will develop with experience, but at least staying aware of the possibilities during your first game will help you avoid the worst case scenarios.

    November 4, 2015

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  • 6 Steps to Getting Started in Paintball

    texture5Paintball has come a long way as a hobby and a sport. Just a few years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to drive multiple hours to play. And it took days of planning to make sure everyone got enough paint and air for that one day. Before rental equipment was popular, all players had to invest in their own or borrow some from a friend.

    In many areas of the US, paintball has now become a mainstream activity and getting started has never been easier. Fields have popped up all over the country and vendors have become much more widespread. The equipment has improved tenfold as well. No more forever fogged up maks or plastic pump markers. Now players have a plethora of gear to choose from and can improve and customize it as they advance skill level.

    That being said, it may not be completely obvious how to get started in paintball if you’ve never played before and don’t have a friend in the sport to show you the ropes. Read on for the steps you should take to get started playing paintball.

    pentagon_smaller1. Find a Nearby Field

    Do a quick google search for paintball fields in your area. In the case of several options, read some reviews and figure out which is more welcoming to beginners. Find out when “walk on” hours are, or the hours that anybody is welcome to drop by and play. If you have a few friends who would like to try out the sport as well, that’s great! Bring them along too. If not, you’ll meet plenty of friends on the field.

    2. Rent Equipment

    Don’t go out and buy full gear before you’ve tried the sport out. It can be a sizeable investment, so you first want to make sure it’s something you really enjoy. The good news is, most paintball fields offer complete equipment rentals included with the price of admission. Do a little research on the field beforehand to confirm this. Ideally, you’ll just show up and be completely outfitted with a mask, other safety equipment, a marker (gun), air, and paint. No advance planning or investments required!

    3. Do a Little Research Beforehand

    While you won’t need to buy or bring anything with you the first time you play, it helps to be a bit familiar with the game. Find out what type of fields and play styles the facility offers and read up on them. The most common is woodsball and capture the flag. If you’ve ever played capture the flag as a kid, you basically already know how to play that style. Just imagine shooting other players with paint instead of tagging them out!

    Find out if the facility recommends a specific type of clothing. It’s a good idea to at least wear long sleeves and long pants, depending on the weather. Check out some paintball etiquette and safety tips as well.

    4. Buy Equipment

    paintball birthdaySo, you’ve survived your first game and can’t wait to play again. The competition, adrenaline rush, strategy, teamwork–it’s all in your ballpark. It’s time to buy your own equipment when you plan to start playing fairly regularly. The options for markers (paintball guns) are endless and it can be a bit overwhelming to choose your first purchase.

    The best thing to do is choose a simple and durable stock marker that you can customize down the line (Tippman A5/X7 or 98 are good starting points). Consider investing in a good mask for your first purchase. These can be pricey, but are very important to safety and comfort. A quality, durable mask will be comfortable, vent better, and last a long time.

    5. Don’t Make Marker Upgrades Just Yet

    Once you make your first purchase, you’ll probably be itching to make upgrades and modifications based on recommendations from other players (magazine attachments, response and e-triggers, barrels, grips, sights… the options are endless).  Don’t commit to any changes just yet. First you’ll want to get more experience playing. Take your new marker out on the field as it was originally designed and get a feel for it to figure out what you like and don’t like.

    Every player is different and this will become clear with the customizations you choose. For example, you buddy may swear by the distance upgrades he’s made to his marker, but you find that you prefer accuracy. Your choice modifications will also depend on the game type you prefer (woodsball, speedball, military, ect.) which also takes time to figure out.

    6. Find an Online Community

    You’ll probably have a ton of questions about getting started and how to improve your game. Check out some message boards (PB Nation, Tippmann forum, Reddit) for a great source of unbiased knowledge. Ask questions about gear, upgrades, safety, experiences, or anything else you’re interested in learning about. This community is actually full of players who are looking to share their knowledge to get more people excited about the sport.

    March 17, 2015

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