How to Play Paintball: A Beginner’s Guide

Americans spend an average of 18 minutes a day participating in recreational activities. If you’re looking for a new way to spend a day with loved ones, why not try paintball? Ask anyone who has played paintball before and see how their eyes light up.

The first thing you need to do is learn how to play paintball. Not only will it give you an idea of the activity, but it will give you an advantage over the other beginners. Don’t worry, we won’t tell.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started.

Let’s Talk Equipment

Don’t worry. You don’t need to purchase anything before arriving at the field. It’s better to rent equipment and get a feel for the game before investing in your own gear.

When you arrive for your game of paintball, you can expect the following items as part of your rental package:

Paintball gun
Hopper (a paintball container that attaches to your gun)
C02 to power the gun
Facemask

You also need paintballs to play. Many businesses only allow field paint which means using paintballs that you’ve purchased on site.

How Much Will It Cost?

The cost depends on how long you intend to play. Most ranges vary between $40-$80 for a full day’s worth of equipment, access, and paintballs.

The largest variable is how many paintballs you purchase, so a lot of the cost will be dependent on how trigger happy you are. Luckily you can find great discounts and save some cash on websites like paintballdeals.com.

The Pain Factor

There’s no way to sugarcoat it; paintballs can hurt. The good news is that you can minimize the pain by covering up exposed skin as much as possible. You’ll want to use layers of clothing to blunt the impact.

Certain fields offer protective gear for rent.

Rules You Should Know

Each field will have different game variations, but you can expect all of them to have a few rules in common.

First and foremost, never remove your facemask on the field of play.
You can only fire at opponents beyond a minimum distance.
Don’t shoot players who have already been marked.
If a paintball hits you, and there’s a solid mark, you’re out of the game.
- Put your hands in the air to show you’re out. The referee will acknowledge you, and then you can walk off the field.
There is an honor system when it comes to calling yourself out and doing so fairly.
Don’t rub the paint off, or you may face a harsh penalty.
Some fields let you clean the paint off if you’re a beginner and get shot early on.