• What Is the Best Season to Play Paintball?

    forest-1950402_960_720Paintball is a fun sport that you can play year round. So, when is the best time of year to book a game? Well, the answer depends on your personal preferences. Each season has its own pros and cons that can help or hinder you during your AC Paintball game in southern New Jersey. Check out some of these pros and cons below!

    Spring

    Pros

    If you prefer playing in temperatures that are not too warm or too cold, Spring may be the best time for you to schedule your AC Paintball game. This is probably the greatest pro that attracts players to play in the springtime. It is also a great time to burn off some calories that you may have put on during Winter.

    Game-wise, there is plenty of foliage to hide behind if you choose to play a game on one of AC Paintball’s wooded fields. If you learn how to utilize this coverage properly, you can gain the edge over your opponents.

    Cons

    One of the greatest cons of springtime paintball is the chance of rain. Rain can really make your AC Paintball game difficult. If water gets in your mask it can block your vision and the ground is slippery. This makes it difficult to move. The rain also makes the ground soft, so you leave footprints and it makes it easier for your opponents to track you. It is possible, however, to avoid the rain if you pay close attention to the weather forecast before scheduling your AC Paintball trip.

    A few other cons worth mentioning is insects and allergies. However, there are ways to help deter these obstacles as well. You can bring bug spray or wear long sleeves so the bugs don’t bother you as much. If you have allergies, be sure to take some allergy medication and maybe bring a pack of tissues along.

    Summer

    paintball-1278895_960_720Pros

    Summer has many of the same pros and cons as spring. The weather is nice, except for the heat. However, like the cons for spring, there are ways around it. You can wear lighter clothing or bring a misting fan. Light clothing will make it easier for you to move about the field and allow you to move into various positions.

    Summer doesn’t bring as much rain as spring. Therefore, the ground is harder and easy to move on. You won’t leave as prominent tracks, making it easier for you to hide. There is still plenty of foliage to hide behind at this time of year as well. Choosing to visit AC Paintball in the summer also gives you a chance to visit and relax on a nearby beach after your game.

    Cons

    The main con for summer paintball is the heat. You will likely sweat a lot which will make it difficult to grip your gun if you don’t wear gloves. The heat can also just take a lot more out of you and make you tired faster. You will also want to be sure to apply sunscreen often.

    In the summer, the sun is high. The sun can produce glares which can make it difficult for you to see and aim properly. Like the spring, there is also still a fair amount of insects in the summer.

    Fall

    Pros

    Fall is similar to spring but still has some key differences. The weather is nice, but a bit cooler than spring. There might not be quite as much rain as spring, but there can still be a decent amount. Fall is a good time to wear sweatshirts which give you a bit more padding than the tanks or tees you wear in the summer. Yet, they are still fairly easy to move around in.

    Cons

    When fall arrives in southern New Jersey the leaves begin to change colors and then fall to the ground. Easily fall can provide great scenery for you to play your game, but soon there will be less foliage for you to hide behind.

    The dead leaves on the ground will also make it difficult to move around. When you step on the leaves, they will make a loud crunching sound which can give your position away if you are trying to hide. If you decide to visit AC Paintball in the fall, try to stay on the paths where there are usually fewer leaves. You may also want to think about playing on one of our speedball courses instead which have fewer trees.

    Winter

    Pros

    paintball bacheloretteWinter is not the most popular time of the year for paintball, but that means there is more availability for you to get the day and time slot you want. While the weather will likely make things more difficult, there are many players who love a good challenge. If you really want to test your skills and endurance, a winter game may be best for you.

    Some other positives are little to no bugs and less sweat. You also don’t have to worry about applying sunscreen as often as you do in summer.

    Cons

    Weather is typically the biggest con in the winter. Most people prefer warm weather to cold weather. Cold weather also means you have to wear more layers of clothing to keep warm. This makes it difficult to move around and can affect your game.

    There is also no foliage to hide behind if you choose to play on one of AC Paintball’s wooded fields. Wind is another issue that can affect your ability to aim and can be annoying to deal with. However, if you are up for the challenge, you can learn how to adjust and improve your skills as a paintball player.  

    Schedule Your AC Paintball Game Now!

    Ready to schedule your AC Paintball game? You can do so here: https://acpaintball.com/schedule-paintball-game/. No matter what season you choose, you are sure to have fun playing with your friends and family at AC Paintball.

     

    December 11, 2017

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  • 4 Tips for Cold Weather Paintball

    winter paintballAC Paintball keeps our outdoor fields open year round, through rain, shine, snow, or ice. Don’t let a little cold keep you indoors! Instead, use these tips to change up your paintball game in preparation for the winter weather.

    Maybe you’ve played paintball through the summer and fall and feel pretty confident in your skills. But once winter rolls around, you may find you need to adjust your game. The conditions presented by this season like snow and ice can pose more of a tactical challenge (Not always a bad thing; Look at it as an exciting way to improve your skills!). There are a few key things you need to do differently when playing paintball in cold temperatures:

    1. Pack a Room Temperature Insulated Cooler

    • Pack paint in an insulated cooler to keep warm
    • Use heat pack to keep paint warm in pod pack
    • Bring a squeegee in case paint breaks inside marker

    Just because the hot weather is long gone, doesn’t mean you won’t need your cooler any longer. Keep the cooler around (or find one with added insulation), this time to keep the cold out instead of in. Paintballs can just as easily shatter from the cold as they can melt from the heat, so aim for a room temperature inside your bag. Too much premature cold exposure can cause the paint to become brittle and prone to cracks or breaks with the lightest touch.

    Help prevent paintball breakage by keeping paintballs in the cooler as long as possible and loading your hopper at the very last minute. If you use a pod pack or vest, a heat pack can help keep the paint at a good temperature during the game. Wear the pod pack underneath your outer layer of clothing and carry a heat pack on your body. Try to avoid shaking your hopper unnecessarily once loaded. Bring a squeegee on the field to use in case some paint does shatter inside your marker.

    2. Have Patience with your Co2 Tank

    • Shoot less and at slower rate
    • Point marker up when not shooting
    • Upgrade to a HPA tank if you play often in Winter

    Co2 tanks may have some difficulty and delays functioning in the winter because Co2 expands slower in colder temperatures. The primary solution is to shoot less and at a slower rate to give your marker more time to operate and help prevent a jam. Point your marker towards the sky when not shooting, which will keep the liquid Co2 in the bottle and out of the valve. Remove expansion chambers and never use heat packs on your tank, which can be counterproductive.

    If you play often in the winter and find that you have many issues with your Co2 tank, you can upgrade to a high pressure air tank (HPA). HPA tanks can be a bit of an initial investment, but won’t have any problems because of cold weather. In fact, these will increase efficiency and accuracy when shooting year round.

    3. Choose Cold Weather Clothing and Gear

    • Wear Under Armour, sweatshirt, and waterproof coat
    • Always wear flexible gloves and a hat
    • Upgrade to a thermal lens

    While this may be a bit of an obvious tip, remember to dress for the cold weather. You’d be surprised how many players come under-dressed because they figure they will quickly work up a sweat. Or worse, don’t know to wear layers and end up overheating in a heavy coat. Layers is the key concept to dressing for Winter paintball (actually, paintball year round). Running and shooting (and adrenaline) can cause you to become hot, but hiding or standing still will bring the cold right back in. Layers allow you to choose the perfect amount of clothing that you need.

    Wear thermal Under Armour, a sweatshirt, and a zip-up waterproof coat that allows for comfortable movement. Flexible gloves and a beanie or hat will help for the cold. Bring a change of clothes for after the game as snow or moisture on the ground will make the game wet and muddy. Upgrade to a thermal lens during the winter to avoid fogging up your googles.

    4. Prepare for Tactical Challenges

    • Watch out for icy and slippery patches
    • Wear waterproof boots with traction and ankle support
    • Bring extra socks

    The different conditions presented by winter– snow, sleet, ice, freezing air– can all pose a higher level of tactical challenges than the warmer weather. Moving around becomes more difficult as everything is slippery and wet. This offers a chance to improve your skills as you maneuver the new conditions. It is certainly a thrilling way to shake things up after a few months of playing in the dry summer heat. However, it can also pose more of a safety risk.

    Tread carefully and look out for slippery or icy patches. Wear waterproof shoes or boots suitable for the weather and make sure they have traction and ankle support. Always bring extra socks in case any moisture gets inside.

    November 30, 2015

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  • 4 Essential Tips for Winter Paintball

    AC Paintball is one of New Jersey’s premiere outdoor paintball facilities and our fields are open for gameplay year round, rain or shine. While we don’t see too much crazy weather, freezing temperatures and the occasional snowfall can impact how we play paintball. Why stop playing paintball for a little bad weather? Instead, adjust your gameplay style and prepare your gear for the cold. Here are our best tips to help winterize your paintball game:

    1. Prevent Paintballs from Breaking

    • Keep paintballs warm as long as possible
    • Use an isolated cooler with heat packs before gameplay
    • Carry paintballs in pod pack underneath clothing
    • Load hopper as late as possible
    • Purchase paintballs designed for winter weather

     

    paintball_pack2It’s a myth that paintballs can freeze. Most contain oil and glycerin (a common ingredient of antifreeze), so the shell would actually shatter long before it could possibly be frozen. The shell of a paintball is made of gelatin or vegetable starch, both of which can become brittle in cold temperatures. After this happens, the paintball can easily crack or break on contact with your hand or while inside your marker’s barrel.

    Help prevent paintball breakage by keeping them out of the cold as long as possible. Bring a small insulated cooler, warmed to room temperatures, to keep paintballs in before gameplay. During the game, If you use a pod pack or vest, these won’t sufficient to keep paintballs warm in the winter. What you can do, however, is wear the pod pack underneath your coat or an outer layer and carry a heat pack on your body.

    In addition, try to remove paintballs from warmth and load your hopper at the very last minute. The hopper will not provide any protection from the cold. Once loaded, try your best not to shake your hopper unnecessarily to avoid busting the paintballs inside.

    Another option is to purchase paintballs specially made for cold temperatures. These are designed with a thicker shell and a stronger fill that will resist damage. While they may cost a little more, it is worth it for the convenience.

    2. Keep Co2 Tank Functioning Properly

    • Shoot less and at slower rate
    • Remove expansion chambers
    • Point marker up when not shooting
    • Never use heat packs on Co2 tank
    • Alternatively, upgrade to a HPA tank

     

    Co2 tanks work fine in warmer weather, but the cold can cause them to have all sorts of problems. The main issue is a decrease in pressure, which causes the velocity to drop and a delay in your marker’s cycle. The end result is an extended stuttering sound, similar to that of a machinegun, as it takes extra effort just to work properly. Eventually,  the marker body may freeze and a thick white vapor will come out of the barrel. Not cool at all!

    The ideal solution is to upgrade to a high pressure air tank (HPA). These are not susceptible to any problems from cold temperatures and function great in warm weather as well. Plus, an HPA tank will provide  increased efficiency and accuracy when shooting. If you upgrade to an HPA, your game will be improved year round.

    However, we know upgrades can be costly, so if you need to stick with a Co2 tank, there are some things you can do to make it more manageable in the winter:  Shoot less and at a slower rate. This will make it less likely to jam up. Co2 expands slower in cold air,  so it just needs a little extra time to function properly. You should also point your marker up when not shooting, to keep the liquid Co2 in the bottle and out of the valve. Remember to take any expansion chambers off as well. Never use heat packs on a Co2 tank, although it seems logical, it does not help because the heat can increase pressure.

    3. Dress for the Weather

    • Wear multiple layers that can be removed
    • Avoid bulky or thick coats
    • Always wear gloves
    • Choose shoes with ankle support and traction
    • Bring a change of clothes in case of mud and moisture

     

    While you may become hot when you run and move, you could get extremely cold when you hide and stand still. Wear layers that you can remove when it gets too hot. Try a thermal under armour base, a sweatshirt, then a zip-up waterproof coat. Avoid coats that are too thick or bulky because these will be uncomfortable and cause excessive sweating. Always remember to bring extra  socks and wear waterproof shoes or boots with ankle support and traction because it may be slippery. Functional gloves that allow you to load and move freely and a beanie or warm hat that covers the ears. If there’s any snow on the ground, the game may become extra wet and muddy. It may be a good idea to bring a change of clothes for after the game.

    4. Make Safety a Priority

    • Watch out for icy and slippery patches
    • Take a break if you have numbness
    • Drink plenty of water

     

    paintball safety tipsStay aware of your surroundings, keep you health in check, and watch out for your teammates and other players as well. Icy or slippery areas are likely in the winter. Depending on how cold it is, hypothermia can also be possible. Take a break if you feel disoriented, dizzy, or have numbness in your fingers or toes.

    Be sure to drink plenty of water! Dehydration is just as possible in the cold as in the heat. Even though it’s not hot out, you will still sweat from running and staying active. Drink plenty of fluids the day before, during, and after playing paintball or any other physical activity.

    February 12, 2015

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