• Deciding How Much Padding To Wear

    DSC06611 (1)Paintball is a sport where small balls of paint fly toward you at high speeds. It can sting a bit when you get hit, especially if you are not used to it. With this in mind, many players at AC Paintball in southern New Jersey wear padding. Padding provides more of a cushion so so the impact of paintballs hitting you don’t hurt quite as much.

    The question we will be looking at today, however, is just how much padding you should wear. There are both positive and negative aspects of wearing more padding. So, to help you decide, AC Paintball has come up with these questions you can ask yourself.

    How Experienced Are You?

    If you are not used to playing paintball, your muscle tissue may still be soft. This means it bruises more easily. The first few times you play at AC Paintball, getting hit may sting quite a bit. However, the more you play, the more you will get used to it. Your muscle tissue will get stronger and you won’t bruise as easily.

    If you are new to paintball, you may want to consider wearing more padding. Then, as you visit AC Paintball more often, you can progressively wear less padding as you get stronger and the impact doesn’t hurt as much.

    What Will the Weather Be Like?

    Another aspect you will want to consider is what the weather will be like on the day you visit AC Paintball. Padding can help keep you warm when the weather is cold, but will also make you sweat more in the summer. Your level of comfort can greatly affect your ability to play well. Therefore, you will want to plan ahead and dress appropriately.

    bandage-1235337_960_720Do You Have Any Injuries?

    Do you have any injuries from your previous games at AC Paintball? If you have a bruise or other injury, letting it get hit over and over will not aid in the healing process. It is important to protect areas where you have been hurt so that you don’t aggravate your injury. Some areas you will want to pay extra attention to include your head, face, neck, elbows, knees, and hands.

    How Much Do You Plan On Moving Around?

    Some people are aggressive players that love to be in the middle of the action. If you are one of these people, you may plan on running around a lot. Using too much padding can hinder your ability to move around easily. The thickness of the padding can block your range of motion and the weight can tire you out faster. If you plan on moving around a lot, you may want to wear a bit less padding.

    At the same time, more padding also means more cushioning if you plan on diving or crawling. You will want to consider what kind of movements you plan on using. If you are just running, less padding may work just fine. On the other hand, if you plan on diving to the ground or sliding behind a bunker, more padding will help protect you.

    It’s Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

    When it comes down to preparing for your AC Paintball trip, it is better to be safe than sorry. Start by wearing extra padding. You can always take some off if it is too difficult to move around. Yet, if you don’t have it with you, you may end up wanting it and not have it. If you can, try to add padding in layers so you don’t have to make the decision between a lot of padding or none at all.

    If you need more help, please feel free to contact AC Paintball. Our staff would be happy to address any questions you may have.