How to Play Paintball Like a Pro: 4 Essential Tips

Although paintball is a thoroughly enjoyable activity for everyone who takes part, it’s always more fun if you’re on the winning team. Knowing how to play paintball at a high level will make it a more engaging and immersive experience, so here are a few pro tips to get you started!

If you’ve never played paintball before or have only experienced it a few times, it’s easy to assume that it mainly consists of “spray and pray” carnage. But in reality, it’s a sport that requires tactical thinking, communication, patience and precision. These are all traits that professional paintball players put to good use and that allow them to develop the necessary skills to be successful. In this post, we’ll highlight a few ways that you can improve the way both you and your team operate on the battlefield.

Communication Is Key

Due to the adrenaline-fuelled combative nature of paintball, it can be very tempting to embrace your inner Rambo and adopt a lone-wolf mindset. But you’ll soon find this to be an ineffective way of winning games — and a very efficient way of getting taken down if you happen to bump into a group of enemies. Team tactics are not only an essential aspect of the sport, but they’re also something that makes it a much more engaging and socially beneficial experience. In fact, it’s the use of team tactics and communication that makes paintball a go-to for corporate team building activities.

When it comes to knowing how to play paintball effectively, communication is a top priority for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures that the members of your team are in sync and can prepare and execute tactical manoeuvres, such as raids and ambushes. Secondly, it means that you’ll be more effective when it comes to spotting enemies, which makes it all the more difficult for them to flank you or sneak up behind your squad.

Keep Moving

Staying in the same spot for too long, no matter how well hidden you may think you are, will get you noticed by the opposing team. This will make it a lot easier for them to hit you with both close and ranged shots, as well as manoeuvre around you for an easy kill. While you’ll definitely come unstuck if you charge in recklessly, it’s crucial to advance enough so that you’re an asset to your team and aren’t forced to retreat into a corner. Plus, constantly moving provides a welcome bunch of health and fitness benefits!

You should also be mindful of how you’re moving; if you’re hesitant, predictable or sloppy in any way, you’ll be an easy target when moving for cover. If your name is Neo and you happen to be The One, then dodging paintballs won’t be an issue. Failing that, opting to zig-zag while running will make it much more difficult for the opposing team to eliminate you from the game. You’ll also find that keeping low to the ground while moving, rather than sprinting bolt upright, will give you a better chance of remaining undetected.

Gain Intel and Act Accordingly

Although charging in does have a certain appeal — especially if you’re fond of 80s and 90s action films in which the good guys are paintballproof — it’s definitely an effective way of getting yourself eliminated quickly. Before you launch an attack, it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with your surroundings and gather enough intel to develop a decent strategy.

Stealth will prove to be essential for gaining new intel throughout the game, as you’ll be able to monitor enemy movements and make your team aware of their positions. This will be crucial for defending objectives, planning ambushes and keeping you one step ahead at all times.

 How Many Paintballs Do I Have Left?

This is a question you should always ask yourself during a game of paintball, especially if you’re a trigger-happy combatant. Regularly topping up your paintballs may seem like a bit of a pain, but it’s substantially less bothersome than coming up against another player and attacking them with nothing but the sound of your marker. The average player will get through around 500-600 paintballs, but if you’re at the top end of that scale, you may want to buy some more paintballs — better to be safe than, well, covered in paint and bruises.

Additional Pro Tip: But what happens if you have no paintballs left in your loader or you’ve completely run out? All is not lost! If you’re pinned down and need to move to new cover or escape a firefight, the noise your marker makes can trick players into thinking they’re being shot at. This will make them duck for cover until the firing stops, giving you ample time to make a run for it. But don’t overuse this tactic — they’ll soon catch on and start peppering you with paintballs.

Now that you know how to play paintball like a pro, surely it’s time to put your skills to the test? Click here to check out our site for prices and venue information or get in touch to speak to a member of our friendly customer service team.  UKPaintball Prices and Locations