• Paintball Tips for Girls

    female paintball playerWe welcome players of all kinds here at AC Paintball. I (a girl) am particularly excited when other girls become interested in the sport. It’s an intense, challenging, and fun game (not to mention a great workout). I love it when girls show up and prove that we can play just as rough as the guys. However, I won’t deny that there are some key differences between the genders. Most newbie girls ask different questions than newbie guys before their first game. This blog post will look at the most popular topics girls are thinking about before playing paintball for the first time. If you’re a guy looking to attract your female friends to the sport, this is also a great read for you.

    What Girls Wear to Play Paintball

    A quick checklist:

    • Sweatpants with leggings underneath
    • Layers (tank top, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt)
    • Padded bra or chest protector
    • High ponytail or low braids
    • Dark colors for camouflage
    • Clothes that can get dirty
    • Comfortable athletic shoes
    • Flexible and padded gloves

    Choose loose clothing. Personally, I love playing sports in yoga pants, but these just don’t work for paintball. The material is too thin and tight to offer any protection. Sweatpants are the ideal solution, allowing for flexible movement and providing some padding. You can wear leggings or gym shorts underneath for added protection. Find a pair of sweatpants that fit properly so you don’t have to worry about tripping or losing your pants while running. If it’s really hot I will wear basketball shorts with knee and skin protectors. However, this is not recommended until you’ve played a few times and know how it feels to take a shot.

    Pile on the layers. Wear layers that you can take off as you get hot. A good combination is a thick tank top, thin long sleeve shirt, and thick pullover sweatshirt.

    Protect your chest. Wear plenty of layers and a thick sweatshirt and you should be fine. Find a specially designed paintball chest protector for the summer months. Alternatively, if you want a more convenient (and comfortable) option just wear a super padded bra.

    Clothes will get dirty. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or even ruined. Make a quick run to Walmart or borrow some old clothes if you don’t have any. Paint, dirt, mud, and sweat will probably cover them by the end of the day. Most of it can be washed out, but don’t count on them ever being sparkling clean again.

    Color matters too. Wear dark colors like black, navy, or forest green. These will resist staining better and also offer camouflage for you to blend into the environment.

    Pull your hair back. Pull your hair back to keep it out of your face while playing. A very high ponytail or super low braid will work best with most masks. Wear a bandana if you are worried about getting paint in your hair. Paint can be oily, but just use a clarifying shampoo and your hair will be back to normal.

    Choose comfortable shoes. Wear any type of athletic shoe you prefer, as long as you can run in them and don’t mind if they get dirty. This includes hiking boots, sneakers, running shoes, skate shoes, ect. Bonus if they are thicker or have a protection at the toe.

    Remember your hands. Nothing hurts more than a shot to the hand without padding. Find a pair of thick, well-fitting gloves that offers protection while still allowing for free movement to operate your equipment. Bonus: crawling and hiding on the ground will be much easier. These don’t necessarily need to be gloves made for paintball. For your first time, any pair you have around the house that meets the qualifications should work just fine.

    Other Paintball Tips for Girls

    birthday paintball NJBring your friends. Some girls prefer to play paintball with other girls the first few times to get the hang of things. This is totally fine. Call up your field and ask if they offer hours just for girls, or else gather up a few of your female friends for a game. When you do play with guys, you don’t have to worry that they’ll be too rough for you. In fact, you might have the opposite problem. Many guys aren’t used to playing with girls and may take it a little too easy on you. Just make sure you shoot them out first chance you get and they’ll realize what a tough competitor you are. Problem solved.

    Communicate with your team. I find that girls are great at analyzing the environment and developing winning strategies. Let your teammates know if have any ideas or notice where the other players are and what they may be planning.

    Don’t be scared to get shot. Getting hit for the first time will be a shock and might hurt, but not much more than a rubber band snap, especially if you take preventive measures. Adrenaline from the game often acts as a natural pain reliever as well. Yell “I’ve been hit!” or “I’m out!” as loud as you can or risk getting shot repeatedly by players that didn’t see you get out. Raise your arms and gun in the air and walk to the safe zone immediately.

    Check out AC Paintball. If you live in the south Jersey area, we welcome you to play paintball with us. We offer walk-on hours every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and take appointments for groups every day of the week.

    July 17, 2015

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  • What to Wear to Play Paintball

    Many first time paintball players often ask us two questions: The first is “Does it hurt to get shot?” and the second is usually “What should I wear?” This blog post will look at the best attire for first time paintball players and attire players should purchase as they become more experienced.

    What to Wear to Play Paintball

    • Long sleeve shirt and long pants
    • Sweatshirt, sweatpants, and multiple layers if weather permits
    • Dark or camouflage colors
    • Loose fitting attire that allows activity and movement
    • Clothing you don’t mind getting dirty
    • Athletic sneakers or combat boots
    • Bring a change of clothes

    Ideal attire for a paintball game offers full coverage of arms and legs (some fields even prohibit shorts). While it may be counterintuitive to wear long sleeves and pants when you will be running and staying very active all day, even a thin layer of clothing will act as a protective barrier between skin and paint. This barrier is needed to keep paint off of skin (although it is completely non-toxic and harmless, it can be annoying to wash off) as well as to prevent severe welts.

    williamstown nj paintball

    Player in sweatpants and long sleeve shirt

    The intensity of welts will decrease with every layer of clothing between bare skin and paintball, as well as a range of other factors. It is recommended to wear as many layers of clothing as weather will permit. Sweatshirts and sweatpants are excellent choices if it is chilly enough outside.

    Another good reason to wear thick layers of clothing is strategy. Soft materials will actually cause paintballs to break less often because it absorbs much of the impact of the shot. When paint does not easily break on a player, this decreases their chances of getting shot out and increases the chances of winning.

    Also consider dark or camouflage colored clothing to avoid easy detection. Older clothing or clothes that can get dirty are recommended. Most paint is washable, but you may be crawling in the dirt or mud and risk of staining is high. Make sure your wear something that loose fitting and allows for free movement.

    Shoes should be comfortable and easy to run in. Athletic sneakers or combat boots are a great choice. Make sure you don’t mind getting them dirty, just in case.

    Always bring a change of clothes for the ride home. If you wear multiple layers, you can simply strip off the outer layer of clothing for a clean outfit. Don’t forget a trash bag to transport your dirty clothing home.

    Safety Gear to Wear During Paintball

    • Goggles (available for rent at paintball fields)
    • Hat or beanie
    • Gloves

    Any paintball field, AC Paintball included, will provide goggle rentals. Goggles act as a safety mask to cover face and ears, and most will come with a visor to cover the forehead as well. A hat or beanie is optional, but a good idea to protect the the top and back of your head. Gloves are highly recommended for easier crawling and to prevent painful hand shots. Any type of gloves that allow full movement will be sufficient for new players.

    Paintball Gear for Experienced Players

    • Battle dress uniform army fatigue pants (BDUs)
    • Army combat uniform (ACUs)
    • Paintball jersey
    • Paintball pants
    • Vest
    • Pod pack
    • Pod belt
    • Neck protector
    • Specialized goggles

    You will probably want to invest in your own safety gear and specialized paintball clothing as you play more and more. Which items or articles of clothing you choose to wear is a personal preference. Many players pick and choose the pieces they find most beneficial to their game. Check out some of the most popular options below:

    Player in military style BDUs

    Player in military style BDUs

    BDUs and ACUs: BDUs and ACUs are heavy duty military style clothing most often in traditional gray or green camouflage designs. The material is comfortable, durable, and blends in seamlessly with the environment. Tops often feature several pockets and pants offer reinforced knees.

    Paintball Jersey: Paintball jerseys are specially designed for the game and can be customized with team name or colors. Speedball jerseys are made of lightweight, ventilated material that absorbs impact and promotes bounce. These are loose enough to fit over protective pads and often flaunt a vibrant pattern and colors. Woodsball jerseys, on the other hand, often come in more muted colors and camouflage patterns for easier blending with the environment. These feature cuffs at the wrist to keep out dirt and a more fitted style to be worn underneath a vest.

    Paintball Pants: Paintball pants are dark colored or match the pattern of the paintball jersey. These are ideal because they come with built in knee padding for easier kneeling, crawling, and impact protection.

    Player wearing a paintball jersey

    Player wearing a paintball jersey

    Paintball Vest: Vests are ideal for woodsball players and offer built-in padding to absorb impact. Several pockets can hold anything players may need on the field such as radios, maps, squeegees, watch, water bottles or personal items such as wallets and keys.

    Pod Packs: Pod packs are harnesses that carry pods which hold extra paintballs. Pod packs can be horizontal or vertical. Horizontal pod packs strap around the waist in a horizontal position. This is a very accessible pack as the pods are easy to reach and put back into place. However, these tend to stick out from the side increasing visibility and it can be difficult to lay down and roll quickly. Vertical pod packs are worn vertically along the waist. These are held closer to the body than horizontal packs, but it can be more difficult to put pods back in place.

    Pod Belt Pouch: A pod belt pouch is a smaller alternative to a pod pack. It is a simple belt pouch that can hold between one and three pods. It is recommended if you don’t need to carry very much extra paint.

    Goggles: Frequent paintball players will probably want to invest in their own mask. It may be the most important piece of gear because players are required to wear on on the field at all times to protect the eyes and face. Masks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Quality masks will provide anti-fog shields and comfort lining.

    June 10, 2015

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