If you’ve never played paintball before, it’s best to try this game out first to make sure you like it before investing in your own equipment, as equipment can be quite expensive. Many players get their first experience at a campground or at a local commercial course or park. It’s much easier to rent all the necessary equipment than to spend hundreds of dollars on paintball supplies that you only use once because the game was too intense. Equipment rental at a course will cost a player between $10 and $30 per day; this is recommended for the first few times you play to make sure you’ll want to play enough times to justify buying your own. Rental paintball guns and equipment are usually basic models and very easy to learn. Shooting a paintball gun is not a complicated affair, however, it may take a few games to get familiar with the intensity of this adventure when other players are shooting at you. When you get hit, not only are you out of the game, but it hurts! The fear of being hit causes many first-time players a kind of paralysis that takes getting used to.
Once you’ve played with rental (or borrowed) equipment a few times and decided that paintball is the sport for you, a little research is in order. The first decision for a new player who is in the market for new equipment is to decide what type of paintball they want to play. There are basically two different types; stage and paintball tournament. Scenario paintball is played on an open field, often in a natural setting (also called woodsball) with players carrying out military-style missions using realistic-looking assault rifles and camouflage clothing. Paintball tournaments are played on a closed field, often with inflatable bunkers to hide behind for timed elimination matches (which team can eliminate the other in the given amount of time). These players use faster electronic paintball guns and wear professional sports jerseys and/or uniforms. Once you have determined which game you like best, the first piece of equipment you should purchase is a beginner paintball gun. Beginner paintball guns are simply made to be easy to maintain and keep clean. Whether you choose woodsball or tournament, beginner markers are easy to spot because they have the cheapest prices.
After you have a good beginner paintball gun, the next required item on your list is a protective goggle. You’re not allowed to play without one, so this is a must-have piece of equipment. There are other pieces of protective equipment such as elbow and knee pads, neck and chest protectors, however, they only serve to make the game more fun/less painful, but are not required. Paintball goggles come in a wide variety of styles and price ranges, but they all offer the same level of protection. Cheaper entry-level goggles have fewer features and often single-pane lenses that tend to fog more. Expect to pay a bit more for thermal lenses, but this feature is definitely worth the extra money. Generally, when it comes to protective gear, there is no specific gear for a specific type of game. However, manufacturers make more “flashy” gear for tournament players and more “military pattern” gear for stage players.
The final piece of your initial setup is an air tank; this is what powers your paintball gun. Some beginner paintball gun packages come with a CO2 tank, but if yours doesn’t, it’s a necessary expense. CO2 tanks come in different sizes, but to play longer, choose the largest available; these are 20 or 24 oz. tanks and you can expect to pay $30-$40 for one. The air tanks come empty, so you will need to fill them up before you can use them. Reloads can be found at commercial ranges, big box sporting goods stores (such as Dick’s, Bass Pro, or Cabellas), and some gun shops that sell airguns. If you don’t have access to such a facility where you live, you can purchase an adapter so your marker uses CO2 cartridges. These are cheap and readily available at Wal-Mart or gun stores, however they only offer a few shots/cartridge (25-30 depending on the gun). Depending on this method, it is required to constantly change the cartridges during the game and the fun of your game will end. If you have to go this route, paintball is probably not the sport to start with.
Unlike renting equipment, owning your own equipment will require you to keep up with maintenance. Paintball guns work with bursts of high pressure air/CO2 to propel the ball at high speed. Constant high pressure makes it common for little things to go wrong, like broken o-rings causing malfunctions with your marker. Paintball is also very complicated; the very nature of the game is to shoot paint and get hit (marked) with paint, so expect to have to regularly clean your gun after playing, even if it’s for a short period. Most paintball guns come with a squeegee, cleaning cloth, and extra o-rings for maintenance. Beginner markers are also usually very easy to take apart for cleaning and maintenance; however, this is not necessary, but maybe once a year to re-oil them and clean them more thoroughly. Although breakdowns occur regularly, most problems can be solved by yourself; however, it’s smart to buy equipment from a well-known brand so there’s a good warranty in case you need to return something.
Once you have everything you need to play, you’ll be excited to play and want to practice whenever you get the chance. If you are interested in moving up the tournament rankings, being part of a team or organizing your own will be paramount. To do this you will want to play as many different teams/players on as many different fields/locations as possible. Even if you think you’re not ready, pick a beginner level tournament and go ahead and sign up. Gaining tournament experience early on will help you shape your skills, strategies, and practices to become a competitive player. Waiting until you feel ‘ready’ to compete will only postpone learning important skills you need early in your career. Competing will also tell you if it’s something you want to continue with. Some players think they want to compete, but after their first tournament they change their minds and end up just playing recreationally; Of course, this is fine, but it will determine how you play and what kind of gear you end up buying.
Know how to enter it; paintball is not a cheap hobby. It can be quite expensive, but like any hobby, if you love it, it’s not expensive at all! Test the waters first before diving into this investment by playing rental or borrowed equipment first. If you like it, buy a beginner setup to keep costs down while you learn the game and what gear you might like. If you fall in love with the sport (as most players end up doing), save your pennies for more expensive, higher-performance markers and supplies. Once you have your dream setup, costs will come down, however, ongoing expenses such as air refills, paintball ammo, tournaments, and travel fees should also be considered. If it’s all too confusing, feel free to ask a more experienced player for advice on how to play or what to get and why.