Paintball first timer

[43st]

I've never played before. I'd like to at least pick up some goggles prior, I've read some good reviews on the Dye Invision brand. Anyone have any tips, hints, recommended online retailers for paintball gear?

It's also going to be in the middle of August so it's going to be crazy hot. Any recommended loadouts that a newb should bring along to be prepared?

UPDATE:
Ok, wow. What a blast. 12 of us met at about 9:30 am. The weather was in the high 80's which turned out to be a bit too hot later in the day, but we played on the shaded fields and took our time. It was amazing fun, we had a great ref. and a great group of guys playing.

I purchased an Invision i3 mask, neckguard, and a paint tube holster. As well as a new pair of digital BDUs from my local Army Navy store. I also took an old rucksack with a couple of water bottles and some energy bars, as well as bug spray and some old t-shirt converted towels.

I read a tip on the PBnation boards that suggested tucking a towel into your belt to protect your boys. That tip sounded much more reasonable to me that running around all day pinching my buddies in a cup. With an old t-shirt doubled up + underwear + BDU's I think it offered the best balance between mobility and protection.

As with most activities in my life I got hit in the head more than anywhere else. My very first paintball hit me square in side of the neck. The neck guard paid for itself on that hit, I highly recommend one! I got hit two other times in the head but those look much worse than they actually feel. I had two other hits on my body. Considering how some of the guys looked at the end of the day I was lucky. Of the entire group we had two hits that opened skin and one tennis ball sized lump on the arse.

We played 6 v. 6 and it was pretty evenly balanced. Our team lost the first few maps to some nasty flanking by the opposing team. We paired up after that and moved together and constantly updated each other on the enemy location. The other team didn't work together after the initial plan phase and that ended up being their weak spot.

If I had anything to change I'd work less on my cardio and more on my quad and upper leg stretches. We're all walking funny due to all the sprint and crouching. I'd also carry more water probably.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions they were very helpful.

 

[atybimf]

It's tons of fun. I have the Invision and I love it. Check out pbnation.com for everything paintball. One thing noobs tend to do is get behind a bunker and stay there. Make moves. Get good angles. It's a lot more fun that way!

Edit: Also, as a noob, I'd reccomend a mech gun versus an electro to learn on.

 

[schneiderguy]

dont get shot

 

[KillerCharlie]

Make sure you have something to keep your goggles from fogging up, even if they say they're anti-fog. Fogged up goggles ruined our games so many times on humid days.

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: schneiderguy
dont get shot

lol good advice

when you are playing and you have the adrenaline flowing you barely feel the hits.

 

[43st]

Thanks atybimf. I should mention that my trip is part of a package deal. The facility is providing all the gear, but most of us are going with our own stuff. I'd probably use the facility's gun, especially as it's my first time out. After hearing horror stories about last years rental goggle mess I'm chosing to bring my own, as well as a neck protector.

 

[DrPizza]

Don't stay in one place... move around.
When you hear a shot, don't immediately duck. Instead, try to see where the shot is coming from; try to figure out where your opponents are at. While they're shooting, a lot of the time if you duck behind cover, they'll simply keep moving around until they have a good shot on you.

Example: speedball field (150 feet by 200 feet)... game begins, everyone runs toward cover. One team had a bunch of new players all go to the same side. I simply kept shooting while I ran down the sideline. None of them poked their head out to see me coming - I simply shot every one of them as I ran past them. Then, it was a matter of walking up the field from behind all their good players, taking out every one of them as well.

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: Thera
Thanks atybimf. I should mention that my trip is part of a package deal. The facility is providing all the gear, but most of us are going with our own stuff. I'd probably use the facility's gun, especially as it's my first time out. After hearing horror stories about last years rental goggle mess I'm chosing to bring my own, as well as a neck protector.

Good idea. I'll tell you the worst places to get hit are the neck, the back of the head (I got shot here by a teammate who freaked out when I was making a move up the field), the knuckles and fingers, and the jewels (yeah, wear a cup).

 

[erikistired]

skip the invisions. they are uncomfortable and chaging the lenses sucks. check out the vforce line of goggles, highly recommended. i've been playing for many years, played tournements and also work on and off for a paintball store and field. the cost should be about the same.

also skip the anti-fog spray, just get anti-fog lenses.

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: fisher
skip the invisions. they are uncomfortable and chaging the lenses sucks. check out the vforce line of goggles, highly recommended. i've been playing for many years, played tournements and also work on and off for a paintball store and field. the cost should be about the same.

also skip the anti-fog spray, just get anti-fog lenses.

I've been playing for several years and have had an Invision for a while and I think its really comfortable.

 

[Shadowknight]

1. Get a new barrel. Rental guns have zero accuracy, even at close range. The one time I went paintballing the people I went with had their own equipment. There was a kid we got on our team (by default they take a bunch of people and make two teams). He was a half decent shot with the crap guns. My friends put on their own barrel on the gun and it had MUCH better accuracy and range).
2. If you plan on going through small brush, wear heavy clothing. Getting scratched up and barbs in your flesh sucks, particuarly when you're wearing short sleeves.
3. If there's a zone right outside the paintball area, keep your mask on if you're facing the combat area! We tried having a picnic lunch and I got hit in the face twice (fortunately, I kept my mask on out of paranoia) and kept getting pellets landing by me.

 

[JoeFahey]

Well, after playing paintball for 5+ years in a "non-speedball" environment, I decided to go to airsoft. So, unless you are playing speedball, play airsoft instead. "Woodsball" (Paintball in the woods) SUCKS.

Also, for your goggles, see if you can get some that say that they have thermal lenses. I have some JT goggles that have thermal lenses, and they rarely fog.

Also, if you do what I did, and play airsoft instead, the good news is that you will have goggles already, as paintball goggles work as airsoft goggles.

EDIT: I forgot, even though others sort of mentioned it. Don't just hide, and spray your paint from one bunker the whole game. Move, even if you get shot in your first few games. It is MUCH more enjoyable. One other thing that helped me do this is that I had someone shoot me before a game so I could know what it felt like. Knowing that it will feel much less painfull with the adrenaline flowing, you will be less likely to just stick to one bunker.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
Well, after playing paintball for 5+ years in a "non-speedball" environment, I decided to go to airsoft. So, unless you are playing speedball, play airsoft instead. "Woodsball" (Paintball in the woods) SUCKS.

Also, for your goggles, see if you can get some that say that they have thermal lenses. I have some JT goggles that have thermal lenses, and they rarely fog.

Also, if you do what I did, and play airsoft instead, the good news is that you will have goggles already, as paintball goggles work as airsoft goggles.

woodsball rocks! way better than speedball.

 

[Ayah]

shoot first or be shot

 

[imported_LoKe]

DO NOT take the mask off while on the field. Even if you're "out" or the game's over, don't take it off.

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
Well, after playing paintball for 5+ years in a "non-speedball" environment, I decided to go to airsoft. So, unless you are playing speedball, play airsoft instead. "Woodsball" (Paintball in the woods) SUCKS.

Also, for your goggles, see if you can get some that say that they have thermal lenses. I have some JT goggles that have thermal lenses, and they rarely fog.

Also, if you do what I did, and play airsoft instead, the good news is that you will have goggles already, as paintball goggles work as airsoft goggles.

woodsball rocks! way better than speedball.

If you enjoy it playing paintball, then you must try it on an airsoft field. It is much more realistic, cheaper, and the balls dont break on branches.

 

[Baked]

Prepare to max out your CCs.

 

[Smartazz]

First time I got shot in paintball I was walking off the field and got shot some more, I didn't know what hit me at first until I looked down.

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
Well, after playing paintball for 5+ years in a "non-speedball" environment, I decided to go to airsoft. So, unless you are playing speedball, play airsoft instead. "Woodsball" (Paintball in the woods) SUCKS.

Also, for your goggles, see if you can get some that say that they have thermal lenses. I have some JT goggles that have thermal lenses, and they rarely fog.

Also, if you do what I did, and play airsoft instead, the good news is that you will have goggles already, as paintball goggles work as airsoft goggles.

woodsball rocks! way better than speedball.

If you enjoy it playing paintball, then you must try it on an airsoft field. It is much more realistic, cheaper, and the balls dont break on branches.

I also love airsoft. Its a lot better than paintball IMO. The range of the guns are mcuh further. Most people dont understand that airsoft isnt just cheap 50 dollar rifles but rather 500-600 dollar BB fully auto bb guns.

 

[43st]

Any recommended online retailers?

 

[linkgoron]

Dont have a paintball fight between you and your friends while driving in cars.

 

[Howard]

Bring towels and water.

 

[soydios]

I've been paintballing once before. I'll be going again this coming Saturday. It's loads of fun. Expect to get sweaty, dirty, and shot at.

General tips:
I wore cargo pants and a sweatshirt. Instead of the sweatshirt, a long-sleeve shirt will do, just something to keep the paintballs from hitting bare skin. Wear gloves too. The mask is a given requirement.
The friend who was taking me let me use one his barrels with the rental gun; it helped, a lot.
Clean your barrel between games, it helps accuracy.
The cheap paint provided by the venue that comes with your rental package usually sucks. Sometimes they break in your barrel, at which point the accuracy just goes straight downhill (the paint residue in the barrel spins the balls, so they curve).
Only newbies pick up unbroken paintballs from the ground. If its rolled around on the ground, it's dirty, and if it's been on the ground for a while, it's swollen, too (it's guaranteed to break in your barrel).
Bring a few towels, both to wipe off sweat, clean your hands of oily paint residue (getting shot on the gun covers your hands and gun with oily paint).
Don't leave your stuff, especially bags of paint, lying around. They have a tendency to end up in someone elses gun if left out. Put them in your bag (a soccer or hockey bag is the perfect size to fit everything), or even better, in your party's car.

Tactics:
Paintball is about using cover. Specifically, advancing from bunker to bunker to get a better position. If you're shooting at a bunker, and someone starts advancing, don't stare at the advancing teammate, keep your covering fire up on the bunker. Hopefully people will do the same for you.
At the start of the game, get to cover ASAP. You have to find a balance between getting to cover quickly, and getting to a good position that might take an extra second or two of running. Never run in a straight line at the other team to get to cover at the start of a game.
If you've been hit, put your gun above your head, over the top of the bunker so the other team can see it, slowly get up, and quickly walk (don't run, or you'll be shot) off the field, holding the gun pointed upwards at shoulder level the entire time.
If you get shot while walking off by either the other team or your team, a single expletive is usually tolerated. Example: "I'm already fvcking out, moron!" Excessive cussing makes people not like you. If you run into the same people you insulted later that day, that's not in your favor. If on the other team, they might hit you with a few more shots than necessary, just to make sure you're out. If on your team, they won't cooperate with you, and rambos are usually cut down quickly.

Etiquette:
Don't be a douche. Don't try to lie about getting hit or wipe off the paint, it just pisses people off, and then everyone (including your teammates) looks down on you.
Respect the surrender rule (less than 10ft, yell "surrender!" is a kill; 10-20ft, yell "surrender", shoot them if they don't comply, shoot them if they start moving their gun).
Always think safety. Barrel plugs or condoms on at all times when not in an active game. Masks on when you're anywhere other than the staging area (picnic tables under a tent, usually).
Don't EVER take off your mask in a game, even if it's fogged. Because, as per Murphy's Law, someone will come up and "bunker" you (come around the bunker and shoot you point-blank) right at that instant, and you'll lose an eye. I like my eyes; I have two of them, and I intend to keep them.
Don't be the hot-shot 12-year-old. Most people who wear fancy jerseys and have fancy guns are just rich kids that, in reality, suck at paintball.
The refs are usually pretty chill. They're experienced paintballers, and will usually help you with any gun problems (go to your friends first, though).

Anecdote:
My first day paintballing, a friend took me. He's been paintballing for several years, never competitive, just for fun. He has a decent double-trigger electric gun (~$150, not like a thousand-dollar Angel), and knows what he's doing. He isn't loud, he isn't brash, he gave good advice, and I listened.
The first game, I got shot by a lob-shot across the field five seconds after the whistle. The last game, I moved up the "snake" (a string of bunkers on one side of the field, usually hotly contested) and came out behind the other team. I made two people surrender and shot a third. The day went well.

 

[EGGO]

soydis basically said it very well, but he forgot one thing.

See that field, that big open space right there?

Don't run in it.

 

[43st]

Wow, great summary soydis! Thanks.

One of the guys is calling the place tomorrow to see what they're actually including for the price. All we know is we get a ref. for the day. and "equipment", whatever that means. Probably faded jump suits and generic guns.