• Basic Dos and Don’ts of Paintball

    DSC06605When it comes to playing paintball, there are many different dos and don’ts that you should be aware of. Knowing what to do can help you positively contribute to the game. Knowing what not to do will help you avoid mistakes or accidents that will negatively affect your AC Paintball game. To help you learn what you should and should not be doing, check out these AC Paintball tips.

    DO Pay Attention to Rules and Safety

    AC Paintball has rules put in place for your safety. We want all of our players to enjoy their paintball experience and not have to worry about reckless opponents. Therefore, we encourage you to pay close attention to the rules and safety briefing before your game and read the rules page on our website.

    DON’T Assume You Know The Rules and How To Be Safe

    If you have played before and heard our speech, you may be tempted to not pay attention or continue to talk to your friend. However, if you talk, other people may not be able to hear the rules or you may miss a new rule that has been added or changed. Remember to be respectful when visiting AC Paintball.

    stretching-2307890_960_720DO Warm Up

    Not only does stretching feel good, but it warms up your muscles so you can play well during your AC Paintball game. Check out AC Paintball’s blog for tips on how to warm up properly.

    DON’T Forget to Stretch

    When you skip your warm up, however, you risk pulling a muscle. You may also lack agility and find it difficult to move. Paintball is a very physical sport and it is important to be able to run, jump, crouch, dive, and perform other movements without any issue.

    DO Ask Questions, Make Suggestions, and Talk To Your Team

    The better your team communicates and the more everyone is on the same page, the better your chances will be of winning the game. If you don’t know something, ask. Don’t be afraid to look stupid. It’s better to correct the misunderstanding before your AC Paintball game that it would be to make mistakes during the game. Feel free to make suggestions as well!

    DON’T Exclude Yourself From Your Team

    If you disagree with your team, it may be tempting to rebel and use go off and do your own thing. This will most likely just lead to a game that is not as fun for both you and your team. Be friendly, join in the fun, and ask others to join in the fun as well.

    DO Take Your Time To Aim

    AC Paintball games can get pretty intense at times. You may think you need to shoot as fast as you can to ensure you hit your opponent before they hit you. While it is true that you need to work fast, taking the time to aim is important.

    DON’T Shoot Without Aiming

    If you don’t aim, you will likely miss and your opponent will hit you anyway. When you don’t aim, you also risk injuring someone by accident.

    paintball-1282158_960_720DO Keep Moving

    The main object of paintball is to eliminate opponents by hitting them with paintballs. Your opponents will try to hit you at the same time you try to hit them. One of the best ways to be defensive is to keep moving. It is harder to hit a moving target than it is to hit someone who is standing still.

    DON’T Stay In The Same Place

    With this in mind, you will want to avoid staying in the same place for too long. If you hide behind the same bunker for more than a minute or two, your opponents may surround you until you are cornered. Then there will be little chance of you getting away without being eliminated.

    DO Support Your Teammates

    People more driven to play and often perform better when they feel appreciated. Complimenting or congratulating your teammates on a job well done is a great way to show your team you are glad to be playing with them. Also, be sure to provide backup for them when they are trying to accomplish an important role during the AC Paintball game.

    DON’T Be Mean To Your Opponents

    Just because you are trying to win the game, doesn’t mean you should be rude to your opponents. A little teasing and friendly competition is fine if both parties are having fun contributing to banter, but be careful not to take it too far. You want to keep your AC Paintball game fun for everyone.

    DO Come Back and Visit AC Paintball Again!

    AC Paintball in southern New Jersey is always happy to help you host a friendly game, party, or celebration. We encourage you to continue to visit our facility and introduce your friends and family to paintball.

    DON’T Forget to Have Fun!

    AC Paintball’s main goal is to provide a safe place where you can have fun with your friends and family. If you have any ideas to make your game more fun or exciting, we would love to help. Just be sure to check with our staff to ensure your idea is safe and acceptable for AC Paintball’s standards.

  • 7 Golden Rules of Paintball

    rules-1752406_960_720Almost everyone knows the golden rule of life, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” It’s a simple rule to understand that anyone can follow. In paintball, there are similar rules. While you may not need to know every single official rule in the paintball rule book, it’s always important to know the basics. Whether you are about to play your very first game or you are a professional, you should always follow AC Paintball’s golden rules.

    Be Safe

    Your first priority when playing at AC Paintball should be safety. While risky plays may lead you to a win, no game is worth a major injury. You should always make sure your attire is suitable and your equipment is working properly. Take the weather into consideration when planning what you will wear. If you are not used to paintball you may want to opt for longer sleeves, layers, or some padding. Be sure to wear suitable shoes for running and never remove your mask while on the field.

    AC Paintball regularly checks their rental equipment, but it doesn’t hurt to double check your equipment before playing. On rainy days, make sure all of your equipment stays dry. If you ever notice a malfunction, exit the field with your arms raised so the other players know not to fire at you.

    Think Before You Act

    Paintball isn’t just a physical sport, but a mental sport as well. You need to make sure your head is clear before an AC Paintball game. Pay attention to what you are doing at all times. If you get overly excited, it is easy to forget to pay attention. Make sure you take an extra second or two to aim your marker. You don’t want to accidentally fire your marker and injure someone. Before you make any risky moves, analyze the situation and think about the consequences.

    Plan Your Moves

    texture3While planning may seem boring to some, good planning pays off in the end. If you charge into one of AC Paintball’s fields without a plan, you will likely find difficulty. While you figure out what you are doing, your opponents will be shooting at you and taking charge of their goals.

    It’s a good idea to get to know the field before the game. This way you will know where the bunkers and obstacles are. You will want to keep moving during the game, as well. Don’t stay hidden behind the same bunker the whole with. Good planning will help you be more successful.

    Listen and Communicate

    Communication is an important tool in paintball. As a team sport, you need to know what your teammates are planning and vice versa. You rely on your teammates and they rely on you. If at any time during the game you change your plan, be sure to let your team know so they can adjust accordingly. It’s also important to listen to the Marshall or team leader. They usually have important information that you will not want to ignore.

    Play Fair

    No one wants to play with a cheater. If you play unfairly you will take the fun out of the game. At AC Paintball in southern New Jersey, we focus on fun and friendly paintball. We want our players to enjoy spending time with their friends and family. Be sure to read through AC Paintball’s rules ahead of time and discuss any other rules you may want to enforce with the other participants. AC Paintball also provides referees who monitor the games and help keep each game fair.

    Be a Supportive Teammate

    urban-885208_960_720Think back to when you may have played other sports you may have played in the past. What made your experience more enjoyable? It was likely the people you were playing with. Playing with supportive teammates if more than playing with aggressive teammates. If you act like you don’t want to play with your teammates, they won’t want to play with you either.

    If you are an experienced player, offer tips to help out newer players. When someone comes under fire, back them up and defend them. Continue to encourage them so they will want to get better. Offer compliments if someone makes a smart move. Being supportive will lead both you and your teammates to have a good time.

    Keep Practicing and Don’t Give Up

    No one is the best the first time they do something. Whether you are new to the game or a professional, it is important to keep practicing. Every time you play, there is a chance to learn a new. Don’t get down on yourself if you make mistakes. Everyone makes them. Look at each mistake as a learning experience. If you don’t give up, you will continue to improve and eventually become a role model for other players.

    If you want to continue practicing, consider an AC Paintball membership. Members receive discounted prices on paintball sessions and equipment. If you want to schedule a game, you can do so here: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/.

  • Variations of Military Games

    Military paintball games can give players some of the best chances to get creative. When you play a military game, there are many different ways to make the game come alive. You can roleplay as your favorite heroes/heroines as well as use props and costumes to make the game more interesting. AC Paintball in Southern New Jersey has a variety of military-style paintball fields for you and your friends or family to play your favorite military paintball game.  Here is a guide to some different types of military games you can play. 

    Attack and Defend

    Attack and Defend games are great if you want a fast-paced game with lots of action. In an Attack/Defend game, the defending team sets off an area to defend. They are not allowed to go outside of this area. The attacking team, however, can play anywhere on the field. This game used standard elimination; if a player is hit, they are out.

    The game is won when all of one team is eliminated or when the attacking team completes a specific task that captures the defending team’s land, such as claiming a specific prop (a flag, crown, etc.). AC Paintball’s Black Ops Pentagon Woods Field would be an excellent place to play an Attack/Defend game. It has a pentagon of drop tank bunkers in the center that would serve as a good area for one team to defend.             

    dualsideshot

    Recon

    Recon is a strategic, collecting game where players try to collect marks from various checkpoints. To set up, various posts with markers or stamps should be set up around the course. During the timed period of play, the player’s goal is to collect as many marks as they can. The challenge is that all of the players have to get to the same checkpoints. With this game, you can have multiple small teams of five players each or you can play every-man-for-himself. This game uses standard elimination rules.

    Once the time expires, the team or player with the most marks wins. Eliminated player’s marks do not count toward their team’s final score. For scoring, you can choose to win by most marks accumulated or you can assign a point system where teams receive bonus points for accomplishing extra feats. For instance, if all of the players visit the same post or if any player is able to obtain a mark from every checkpoint, they can receive a few additional points.              

    POW

    Pow is similar to Attack/Defend, but instead of capturing land or a prop, each team tries to capture the other teams players. When a player is hit, they must go to the opposing teams holding area. Their teammates can get them out by tagging them. The game is over when either one team has captured all of the other team’s players. You can play with a time limit if you prefer. In this case, the team with the most captured players at the end wins. Pow is another good strategy game.    

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    Hostage Rescue

    Hostage rescue is a mix between Attack/Defend and Pow. One team starts out with a hostage and the other team must rescue them by taking them out of the holding area and getting them to a designated area called the sanctuary. If a hostage finds themselves alone without a rescuer at any point, they must wait where they are for another rescuer to find them. They can call out for help if they wish.

    The game ends when either the rescuers get the hostage to the sanctuary or the captors eliminate all of the rescuers. The game also ends if the hostage is hit at any point. The team who hit the hostage loses. AC Paintball’s Blue Thunder Woods Field would be a good choice for this type of game. It has two rows of military tents on either side of the field that would be a great base to keep hostages.               

    Traitor

    To set up a traitor game every player is secretly assigned roles. Teams usually choose by pulling out two kings, two jacks, and a sum of numbered cards from a playing card deck (equal to the number of players minus four) and having each person draw a card. There are two kings and two traitors. The kings are the leaders of their team and the traitor’s role is to eventually turn on their own team at whichever point they seem fit. Standard elimination rules are used for Traitor games. The game is won when the king of either team is eliminated.            

    Assassins

    Assassins is an every-man-for-himself strategy game. Before the game begins every player’s name is written on a piece of paper. Then every person then draws the name of another player and does not tell anyone whose name they drew. Their goal for the game is to eliminate that player without being eliminated themselves. Players should not eliminate someone other than their target. In this game, the last player standing wins.

    new jersey hyperball paintball field

    President/VIP

    In VIP/President, each team begins by selecting a VIP. The goal of the game it to protect your team’s VIP while also trying to eliminate the other team’s VIP. Like most games, this game uses standard elimination and ends when one of the VIPs is eliminated. AC Paintball’s Hyperball Field would be an interesting place to play a President/VIP game. It is the AC Paintball’s smallest field which will keep the game going and has a variety of obstacles to help protect your VIP. 

    Civil War

    Civil war is a very structured, warlike game. To begin, each team lines up shoulder to shoulder and then the leader yells, “Fire!” Immediately after this happens, every player simultaneously takes a single shot at the other team. If a player is hit, they either fall down or step back. Each team continues firing rounds until one entire team is eliminated.

    If you are interested in booking a game at AC Paintball in southern New Jersey, you can follow this link: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/. AC Paintball offers a safe and enjoyable place to play your favorite military game while improving your team-building, strategy, and hand-eye coordination skills.

  • Variations of Capture-the-Flag

    Capture-the-flag is a childhood game that has its roots on the battlefield. In past times, a war wasn’t over until you captured your enemy’s flag. This format eventually became a popular children’s game and in more recent years, it has worked its way into paintball. Eventually, capture-the-flag evolved even more as players add new rules and concepts. Now there are even more variations of the game to play and we have described them below. You can use these game plans as ideas for your next paintball game at AC Paintball in southern New Jersey.

    Entryway to AC Paintball in New Jersey

    Neutral Capture-the-Flag

    With neutral capture-the-flag, you play with only one flag. Rather than having a flag at each teams base, one flag is placed in the middle and each team tries to take that flag back to their home base to win. This game is more like a tug-of-war game compared to a normal capture-the-flag game. If someone is hit while carrying the flag, the flag is planted where they were hit. With evenly matched teams, the flag can go back and forth for quite some time before the game ends.   

    Center-Flag-Push

    Like neutral capture-the-flag, center-flag-push is played with only one flag. The catch is that instead of trying to bring the flag back to your home base, you try to push the flag onto the other team’s home base. Games with one flag at the center can be more interesting than having one flag on each side because it evens the playing field a bit more. The wooded fields at AC Paintball in southern New Jersey are not symmetrical. Trees and other foliage grow randomly and therefore one side can be more difficult to navigate than the other. Center-flag games keep the play fair because neither team gets much of an advantage.

    Bomb

    The difference between normal capture-the-flag and bomb is that each team starts off with a “bomb” which can be a box, a rolled up shirt or whatever you want. The goal for each team is to get the bomb to the other team’s base. This is different from center-flag-push because you start out with the object rather than having to capture it first. Bomb can also be played with either two-sided or neutrally. You either have to get the bomb to the other team’s base or get it to the center first.     

    pentagon paintball field

    Down, But Not Out

    Down, But Not Out is the best version of capture-the-flag to play if you want everyone to have a more even amount of playing time. Usually, once you are hit, you are out, but in this game, your teammates can tag you to revive you so you can be back in the game. In this game, when someone is hit, they simply sit on the ground where they were hit. They wait for someone to tag them and when someone does, they are back in the game. This game takes away the opponent’s strategy of trying to lower the number of the other team’s players to win the game. They must brainstorm and find a different strategy to win the game.                    

    Blackjack

    If you want to save money on paintballs, the blackjack version of capture-the-flag is a more strategic version of capture-the-flag. Rather than having unlimited paintballs, a blackjack game only allows 21. Players must learn to use their ammunition wisely. If you’ve played all day at AC Paintball and only have a few paintballs left, you can divide the total amount left evenly and play blackjack with however many paintballs remain.

    The wooded New Jersey courses at AC Paintball such as the Black Ops Pentagon Woods field, the Blue Thunder course or the Red Dawn Woods course would be excellent places to play any capture-the-flag game. If you would like to book a game at AC Paintball, follow this link: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/. 

  • Variations of Speedball

    Within the most common versions of paintball games are even more versions that players have come up throughout the years. By changing one or two simple rules, players can change the entire dynamics of a paintball game. This keeps the game fresh and interesting as well as allowing you to choose which set of rules works best for you. At AC Paintball in southern New Jersey, there are many ways to play paintball. Here are some versions of speedball that other players have come up with to help you choose what rules you want to play with. You can also use these ideas as inspiration to come up with your own game.

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    Annihilator

    An annihilator game is played a lot like a typical speedball game, except there is more than one team and you use points to win the game. In annihilator, there should be about four teams of five players. When someone from your team hits and eliminates an opponent, your team gets a point. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.               

    Bunny Hunt or Predator vs. Prey

    In a bunny hunt game, one person is chosen to be the “bunny”. They are given a limited time to run and hide until the rest of the players come in to hunt for the “bunny”. Once the bunny is captured, the game is over. Predator vs. Prey is very close to bunny hunt, except you can have more than one “bunny.” This makes the teams a bit more even and allows the game to last longer.               

    Tag

    The tag version of paintball is played exactly how you played tag as a kid. One person is “it” and they run around trying to tag other players with a paintball. Whoever gets hit is “it” next and the game continues this way for as long as you want or until everyone has been “it” at least once. Tag is a great nostalgic game that can bring you back to your childhood. 

    Hide ‘N’ Seek

    Hide ‘n’ seek is another great childhood game that is played exactly how you used to play, except with paintballs. One person is chosen to be “it” and stays at the starting base while the other players run to hide. Once the “it” player is finished counting, they run into the woods and begin to search for players to hit. Once they find all the players, the game is over. You can decide whether or not the players “it” finds get to aid in the search for more players, hide again, or serve as distractions for players who are still hiding. One of AC Paintball’s wooded courses such as the Blue Thunder Woods Field or the Red Dawn Woods Field would be excellent courses for a game of hide ‘n’ seek.

    hiddenshot

    Trophy Hunter

    In trophy hunt, rather than players hiding, trophies are hidden throughout the course. Teams run around collecting the trophies until all of them have been collected. The team with the most trophies at the end of the game wins. Again, AC Paintball’s wooded courses would make a great place to play this type of game. The thickly wooded areas of southern New Jersey make for tricky hiding places to make the game more challenging.

    Paintburner

    If some of your players get too competitive and you want to play a game with no winners and no losers, paintburner may be the game for you. In this paintball game, multiple teams play normal speedball with standard elimination rules. The catch is that when you are out, you still have a chance to come back in. Once a person is out, they simply wait at the starting base until two or three more players get knocked out. Afterward, these players form a new team and continue to play for as long as you want. This is a great game to play at the end of the day to make sure no one gets upset about not getting enough playing time. It is also a good choice for team building skills because players have to learn to adjust to different teammates.

    Mixing up the rules is a great way to keep a paintball game interesting. Changing the rules keeps players on their toes and challenges their brains. If you have a group or team that has been stuck in a rut lately, playing paintball at AC paintball in southern New Jersey could be the inspiration they need to get back on track. Your team can work together to both decide the rules and win the match. If you’re interested in booking a game at AC Paintball, follow this link to check out our group packages: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/.

  • Does it Hurt to Get Hit With a Paintball?

    If you are about to play paintball for the first time, AC Paintball welcomes you to this exciting game of strategy, action, and adventure. Feel free to browse our blog posts for tips and tricks on gear, strategy, equipment, and more. This post will look at the most popular question paintball newbies ask us: Does it hurt to get shot?

    The answer is not as bad as you might think, so don’t allow fear of potential pain prevent you from trying paintball for the first time. Yes, getting hit with a paintball on the bare skin of a sensitive body part at a high speed, close range, and direct angle would certainly hurt quite a bit. However, in reality that is most often not the way it happens. With protective clothing and a safe range, most times you will only feel a strong thump on your body. There are many other precautions and safety measures paintball players can take to avoid and minimize pain.

    green paintballs

    How to Reduce Pain When Playing Paintball

    1. Wear Layers of Clothing

    Wear loose fitting clothing and as many layers as the weather will allow. Sweatshirts, sweatpants, and camouflage jackets are all great choices if it is cool enough outside. The thick cloth will absorb much of the impact and the paint will actually break less often. As you continue to play paintball regularly, it is a great idea to invest in specialized clothing that provides padding and extra protection in vital areas.

    During the summer or in hotter climates this is obviously more difficult to do. However, try to wear at least a light a thin long sleeve shirt and light pants, plus gloves and goggles (check out our collection of high-quality rental gear if you don’t have your own). Even just one protective layer is ideal over bare skin.

    2. Protect Sensitive Spots

    The most sensitive areas to get hit are the hands, neck, top of head, and thighs. Always wear paintball gloves with padding and armor on the back to protect the hands if you are worried about pain. Find gloves that are comfortable and allow for flexibility as you will need to operate the marker quickly during games. The top of the head is vulnerable to shots when you are crawling toward an opponent, so make sure to have cover during this time. Your neck should be protected with almost any type of mask, but be careful when looking upwards as this will probably expose the neck.

    Direct shots hurt more than angled shots, but it is obviously difficult to control the direction from which an opponent shoots you. Just keep this in mind and try to deflect a shot from the side if at all possible.

    3. Follow Safety Rules

    Each field will have their own safety rules to be explained before play, but they are generally some variation of the following. To be eliminated, a player must be directly hit on any part of their body, gear, or equipment. The paintball must break and leave a mark about the size of a quarter. When you are hit, yell “I’m hit” or “I’m out” to avoid duplicate hits. Hold your arms and marker in the air as you walk off the field so opponents know that’s where you are headed. If you aren’t sure if a hit counts as an out, yell “paint check” and a referee will come over and let you know.

    4. Agree on the Surrender Rule

    The surrender rule is in place generally to allow beginning players to get the hang of the game without the fear of being bombarded and shot painfully by more experienced players. The surrender rule allows players the option to surrender if an opponent has a direct shot on them within 10 to 15 feet. The opponent should yell “surrender,” “point blank,” or “freeze” to let the player know they can shoot them at a close range. The player should comply verbally or simply raise their hands to avoid being hit. If the player refuses and attempts to run or shoot, they will probably take a painful shot. However, it’s good sportsmanship to fire at the foot when in close range to minimize pain.

    5. Keep a Strategic Position
    Communicate and work with your team to avoid being bombarded by shots. One mistake rookies often make it forgetting that paintball is a team sport and not individual. Never run into the middle of the field blindly without any plan because this will overexpose yourself to the other team. It’s better to be strategic and develop a plan that involves cover from your teammates, a tree, bunker, or obstacle. Try to have an idea of where your opponents are at all times as well.

    Position is very important in paintball. Get caught in a vulnerable position and you can get shot more times in a few seconds than a few hours time in a strategic position. Remember that there is safety in numbers and acting with teammates instead of alone greatly reduces your chances of getting shot.

    “Paintballs green” by Makkonen – Self-photographed. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paintballs_green.jpg#/media/File:Paintballs_green.jpg

  • 10 Rules of Paintball Etiquette

    texture1Paintball players generally have a high standard of sportsmanship. Everyone has the same goal: an action-packed day of friendly competition. Respect the players, respect the game, and you’ll have a great time. Here are some general paintball etiquette rules to abide by:

    1.  Safety first

    Set your marker to shoot at a maximum velocity of 300 fps as required by law (At ACP we have a strict limit of 280 fps and we use pre-game velocity check technology). Anything higher can cause welts and broken skin. It’s a good idea to double check your marker’s velocity is at a safe limit before each game, even if you recently adjusted it.

    2. Keep your mask on

    Never remove your mask on the field for any reason. If you see that someone has lost their mask on the field, don’t shoot. Yell “blind man” so other players are aware. Always use barrel plugs after play and keep your mask on until all barrel plugs are in place.

    3. Don’t be a jerk

    Always respect your teammates and opponents. No pushing, shoving, or any physical contact at all. Don’t bonus ball just for amusement. It only takes one solid hit for a player to be out. Shooting players multiple times unnecessarily is an easy way to discourage beginners from coming back.

    4. Remember paintball is a team sport

    Don’t act like you own the field; give everyone a chance to get in on the action. Solid teamwork will win you more games than a focus on individual glory.

    5. Mind your fire

    Never blind fire. If you can’t see what you’re shooting at, don’t shoot. You could accidentally hit the refs or local wildlife.

    6. Never shoot point blank

    Paintballs can hurt at close range, even with protective gear! Allow opponents the opportunity to surrender if you have a clear shot within a range of 10 ft. If the player doesn’t surrender, aim for a shoe, gear, or padded area.

    7. Don’t cheat

    When you’re hit, you’re hit. Don’t wipe paint off and keep playing; this is considered cheating. Hits a quarter size or bigger on anything you carry (gear, mask, marker, hopper, etc.) count. If you’re unsure if you’re hit, signal for a ref or yell “paint check.”

    8. Clear the field when you’re hit

    Raise your arms and marker so other players know you’ve been hit. Quickly make your way to a safe zone to avoid being caught in crossfire. Never fire after you’ve been hit.

    9. Respect the ref

    The referee’s ruling is the final word. Signal for the ref to judge if there are any disputes during play. The ref can eject you from the game for breaking any rules of the field.

    10. Be a good sport

    We know it’s a competition and you want to win. Strategize the heck out of the game, but don’t get too aggressive to the point that you risk injury. Congratulate the winners with a “good game” even if you’re unhappy you lost.