A very wise nanny once said that the very best place to start was at the beginning. I agree, and therefore, that is where we will start with the "how to" of getting into the hobby of paintball.
Research is the very best foundation that you can put into any hobby that you wish to start. It will help you to know what to get, and where to go for the best times, and even help you to know how to play your sport before you ever get to the playing field.
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I would begin with researching the location. Where are you going to be playing? Where do you live, and what are the perimeters surrounding your paintball gun usage? If you live in the city, what are the codes to paintball gun usage in your own yard and city parks. Is there any time at all that even an exception can be made? You will need to be able to answer all of these questions (especially if you are a child wanting to present this to parents). Speedball courses would be an option, and will be located in most metropolitan areas. You will need to research all costs involved with their usage, age, and gun requirements. Other places to research would be city parks, country clubs, and golf courses. Take all negative answers with respect, and even plant a seed in their minds that there might be a market that would be compatible with their current business that they are neglecting to earn money from. Never hurts. If you live in a rural area, you should not have any problem using your own personal property, but I would check with county regulations anyway. Friends with farms are often a wonderful resource to begin this hobby. Check with state and federal park rules and regulations. Do not ever overstep the bounds of common courtesy when using someone else's personal property or public properties.
Next, I would research who else plays in my area. I would want to know specific teams determined by age, physical ability, types of weapons used and types of games played. If I had a specific physical need (like wheelchair dependent), I would want to know if there are enough other such folks wanting to paintball and enough to make competitive teams. I would want to know if there are teams in my area open to someone of my age and the weapons I choose to use. If not, I would not just roll over and give up. It would be time to begin posting signs and articles encouraging others to enter the arena with me. I would keep up this initiative until I had enough of whatever I was looking for to form a competitive team.
The equipment is probably the area that will need the least research because the most advertising is already been done. I would still research it, however. I would want to know how many paintball shops were in my area, and how many of them had courses attached. I would also check online shops until I found ones that would provide the items that I required at the best possible prices. More expensive does not always mean better.
After the research is all done, and you have made up your mind about whether you have a place to play or not and someone to play with, the next thing for you to decide will be the investment that you are willing to make. In researching the equipment, you have come up with some kind of idea as to what you will be needing to set aside to invest in this hobby. This dollar amount will not be the same for every hobbyist, either. Young children dependent on the finances of their parents will set a different budget than young adults who have their own income to budget. In either case, the needs are the same, and that is what we will be addressing today. You may want to start small, with only the basics, and grow your equipment as you develop your skills. Basic equipment will get you ready to play, and the essentials will be the same for everyone regardless of budget.
A marker (as paintball guns are called) will be available in all shapes and sizes and range in price from less than one hundred dollars to a thousand or more. My advice is to stay away from both ends of the range. Too cheap may mean that you will spend so much of your time making repairs that your frustration level will propel you away from a sport that you might otherwise enjoy. Too expensive of a weapon just might restrict the events that you would be able to join, thus limiting your ability to play. You might even want to rent a few different markers from a local paintball shop to determine what you would actually want to invest in.
A full face helmet or face mask is a must. Most courses will not let you play without your eyes protected, but I really advise full helmets to protect your ears as well. Is seeing really any more important than hearing? Not to me, it isn't. Purchase and use only eye and ear protection that is approved for paintball.
A hopper is used to feed the paintballs into your chamber. There are many kinds on the market and need to be compatible with your marker. A hopper that feeds electronically will be more silent and assist in any covert moves you make. You may want a hopper that will feed your next shot while you are shooting your already chambered shot. This way, as you move locations between shots your hopper will not be alerting the competition to your location. During your research phase, you will have determined whether you need a belt drive hopper or electronically. You might not need the silent feature, and be able to go with a lower priced hopper.
Propellant comes in many kinds, from pump it yourself, to compressed air or carbon dioxide. You will need to know what kind of compressed air tank your gun requires: small 12 gram tanks, or larger tanks that screw on to your gun. Larger tanks will be able to shoot hundreds of paintballs. Choosing refillable tanks have an advantage, as most paintball shops have the ability to refill for you. This, of course, will be an ongoing expense so budget for it.
Another ongoing expense to budget for will be your paintballs. They come in many different colors and price points. The cost of paintballs cover a wide range, just like the guns do, and again, my advice is to not choose either extreme end of the range. Price usually determines grade of paintball. There are "practice" grades and "competition" grades. I recommend a mid-range ball that can be used for both. To "chop" a ball in the chamber means a time out for the player to take apart his weapon and clean it. This should be avoided at all costs. It is frustrating and can cause lack of interest in a very fun sport.
Other items that I like to always have in my paintball "travel bag" include: water and snacks, screw driver and allen wrenches, extra o-rings and appropriate clothing. Layering is always a good idea, but never more appropriate than when playing paintball. You may start out in the early forenoon, and end up in the heat of the day. Keeping yourself covered so that you do not bruise too badly with hits is always a good idea, but if you layer correctly, you can remain comfortable during the day. You may also be sidelined along the way for penalties of some kind, and if you can remove a jacket or heavy shirt while you wait to re-enter the game, it will be more comfortable.
I hope this has been helpful, and that you have enjoyed a grandmother's take on how to get started in a young person's hobby. See you on the course!
I Want to Paintball - Where Do I Start?
Nestled in the foothills just west of the Misty Fjords National Monument, in the midst of the Tongass National Forest, guns are a way of life for the Alaskans who live here. Not all of us desire to "kill something" just because we love the challenge of hunting and shooting. Paintball guns fascinate me for just this reason. Thank you, E, for getting grandma captivated by such a safe, active and challenging sport.
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