How to improve your paintballing skills

From ArticleWorld

Paintballing has become a very popular sport, to the extent that companies often take their employees out on paintballing weekends. Divided into teams, players try and ‘hit’ their opponents, though the rules tend to be decided amongst the players, and are not uniform. Like all extreme sports, there is a level of skill to be attained, and a degree of danger.

Technique

The main skill in paintballing is running along and shooting the gun at the same time. Practice holding your hand in the ‘gun’ position (imagine your ring and pinkie fingers are around the handle of the gun, your thumb across the top, and your middle and index finger squeezing the trigger). ‘Fire’ (without gun) at everything. Then practice with a branch or a washing line: run towards it, carrying your gun in front of you, fire at the branch, and then run back.

Practice the major positions: front man-the scout of the group, he watches for opportunities to move into bunkers, or to pick off enemy players; middle man-the artillery of the team, they expend the most paint, and are generally the pitched-battle men; back men-defenders, they also use a lot of paint, their role is watching the backs of the other players, and occasional rescue missions.

You should also know now to reload in an emergency. Your team-mates should be asked to defend (or cover) you. Open up your hopper (The device on your gun which feeds paint into the gun). With your fingers still depressing the trigger, take out a pod (you did bring some pods, eh?), and open (top should snap off). Pour paint into gun, close the hopper. Fire at enemy.

Try and corner enemy players in bunkers. You can use a few team-mates, let him run out of paint, and then shoot him. Be careful not to get trapped in bunkers yourself.

If you know where the game is to be held, you can go in ahead of the play, and try and work out a plan based on the conditions.

Safety

• Always wear your mask. If it comes off, cover your face, and shout for help. Be ready to be knocked to the ground by people trying to cover you.
• Obey the rules of the site where you are playing.
• Know your gun. Read the manual before playing. Use a barrel plug
• Be aware of obstacles in your path, and under your feet.
• If anything goes wrong, don’t hesitate to call for a ceasefire.
• If anyone else calls for a ceasefire, comply immediately.
• Obey the referee.