• 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.

  • AC Paintball Health Tips

    apple-2391_960_720While playing paintball is a great way to build your muscles and stay healthy, you need to back it up with other healthy habits. You need to take care of yourself before, during, and after a game, so that you don’t get hurt. At AC Paintball in southern New Jersey, we want our players to be happy and healthy. We support safe paintball and offer these tips to keep you and team energized.

    Drink Plenty of Water

    Summers in Williamstown, New Jersey can get hot. While you’re running around AC Paintball’s field, you will continually lose water through sweat. Losing even a small percentage of your body’s weight in fluid can significantly affect your game. Proper hydration will keep you running longer and feeling better.

    You need to hydrate before, during, and after each game. One to two hours before playing, you should drink a bottle of water. Right before the game, you should drink another half bottle of water. During your AC Paintball game, you should drink a half bottle of water every 15 minutes or so. After the game, be sure replenish any additional water you lost throughout the day.

    Eat Healthy Foods

    Along with drinking enough, you need to make sure to eat the right foods. Foods with protein will give you the energy you need to play multiple AC Paintball games. Whole grains will keep you feeling full longer so you can concentrate on the game rather than your stomach growling. Fruits and vegetables will give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly. Yogurt is a good source of calcium that helps your muscles. Fish or sushi will keep your eyes and brain functioning to the best of their ability.

    Wear Appropriate Clothing and Footwear

    Before you leave your New Jersey home, you will want to make sure you have proper clothing and footwear. The best clothing to wear is something that is easy to move in. You don’t want your outfit to be so tight you can’t move or so loose that you get your sleeve caught on something. Something light weight will make it easier to perform to the best of your ability.

    feet-1840619_960_720Be sure to check the weather before coming to AC Paintball and prepare appropriately. In summer, wear breathable clothing and be sure to bring sunscreen. In cooler temperature wear a few layers. You may also want to consider some padding to avoid injuries. Sneakers are the best and most appropriate choice for footwear.

    Have a Proper Warm Up and Cool Down

    The average AC Paintball game gives you a full body workout. Between running, crouching, squatting and more, you work more muscles than the average sport. With this in mind, you need to make sure your muscles are warmed up so you don’t get hurt. Before your game jog a few laps and do some dynamic stretches. This includes knee-highs, butt kicks, grapevines, etc. If you still feel stiff, try adding some static stretches.

    Just as important as a warm-up is a cool down. A cool down allows your body to gradually return to a resting state. After an intense game, your blood and heart will be racing. If you sit down and do nothing too fast, you may get dizzy and feel sick. A proper cool down includes jogging, dynamic stretching, and static stretching.

    Follow Safety Rules

    Paintball can be dangerous if you don’t follow safety rules. You should keep your helmet/safety gear on at all times and always keep your gun pointed low. Don’t be too reckless during play. Dangerous moves are not worth the injury.

    At AC Paintball, your safety is our priority. To view our official rules and regulations, please follow this link: https://acpaintball.com/ac-paintball-rules-and-regulations/. If you would like to schedule a game, you can do so here: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/.