Word of advice for the uninitiated...

[DavidBoren]

For anyone who may be just starting out...

Are there any newbies on MCB, or are we all dinosaurs around here that remember paintballing before the turn of the millennium?

Anyways, just some thoughts and advice, a few things I have learned along the way that might make life easier for someone starting out...

1) Keep your first marker, no matter what it is. You will appreciate it someday later, I guarantee it.

2) Less is more. Always fear the man with one gun, because they know how to use it. Having a horde is cool and all, but it can be a distraction. Pick something and perfect it.

3) Set yourself up with good peripherals... mask, mask bag, gear bag, barrel swab, pod swab if you use pods, GOOD TOOLS, tank cover (protect your investments)... it will pay for itself in the long run.

4) Drink water and eat properly before you play,, so you can play as much as possible when you're out there. In order to get better, you need trigger time. You can't play every match all day if you're falling out.

5) Have fun. It's just a game. That's not to say you shouldn't be dedicated, take it seriously, move with a purpose, and adhere to violence of action... all of those are certainly helpful, if not necessary. But don't forget to have fun.

I am sure there's more, but lists are boring. Others may add to this if they have something to add, there is a lot of experience on MCB, lots of lessons learned the hard way, too.

[freedom]

Others may add to this if they have something to add

nah, what you just said is perfection

[Jonnydread]

5) Have fun. It's just a game. That's not to say you shouldn't be dedicated, take it seriously, move with a purpose, and adhere to violence of action... all of those are certainly helpful, if not necessary. But don't forget to have fun.

I feel like this gets forgotten so often on the field. Paintball is fun, let it be fun.

[Grendel]

Yup, have fun that is it the most important thing in any hobby let alone paintball. Your fun and my fun might not coincide with each other so the next thing is find like minded people to have fun with.

[punkncat]

I have to say that most of these kids wouldn't know the working side of many tools if it BIT them.
I would suggest to a new player that IF you are mechanically inclined and even mildly skilled....almost every marker made and certainly all the modern ones have a YouTube video showing exactly how to disassemble, service, and reassemble your marker. Many of the new markers (and I REALLY have to give a nod to PE here) have beautiful color manuals that go into almost every aspect of the marker.

If after looking at those items you are still unsure there is almost positively someone at the field or your local shop that will likely show you how to do it. (In this case LOOK for that fellow with the huge collection) IF after they SHOW you in person and you still have doubts, take it/send it to a professional.

As that old guy at the field with the (now) big collection I honest to goodness spend more of my time being asked to fix things that these kids don't care to understand than I do playing. 99.95% of them don't even know how to change modes on their LCD/OLED screen starship. I don't mind, but the trend isn't lessening.

[ATBen]

Agreed, except I'll always bring three guns to the field. I like variety, all my children are perfect. My kid on the other hand...

[lew]

Points 1 and 2 are far too subjective and open-ended.

1) I sold my first gun and the dozen following that one long a go and don't miss any of them. My current collection makes me far happier.

2) Technical ability and skill and the collection one can amass because of those has little to no correlation with playing skill. I always bring at least three markers to the field and am a pretty good player. Someone with one gun may be new to the sport, may not be comfortable enough with a paintball gun to consider adding another one to the lineup, may not have the funds to play/practice often (although I know all of us MCB-ers are flat broke ), and so on...

Points 3, 4, and 5 are spot-on.👌🤘

[coyote]

If you are inclined to splurge;
1 A top quality mask.
2 Field time. The more you play the more you develop fundamental skills.
3 A great case of paint can be a glorious experience.

[punkncat]

Yup, most people don't understand that spending $20-30 more on your paint offsets thousands in a "better marker" and "better barrels" shooting shit paint.

[spikeball]

I see this every so often at my field I frequent, and it's kind of in the same vein as number two; a more expensive marker does not make the player.

Personally, I've been playing with sub $250 markers for YEARS without being out-gunned.

The fun element is quickly forgotten in the competitive environment. In a weird way, I'm kind of excited when someone shoots me out. It means I'm playing to my limits.

[Interl0per]

[SignOfZeta]

This image exists in my mind for SO MANY hobbies outside of paintball. Photography, cooking, RC cars, fishing, wood working, and pretty much any sport. This cartoon could be redrawn 100 times. No matter what you are into there is probably an industry that wants to sell you a carbon fiber/titanium walking stick, a huge tripod, a protective chemical of some kind, a time saving widget, etc. The dudes who stay with it for 20 years, 40 years, whatever, show up in flip flops and the most compact gear they can acquire. They don’t put STP in the tank by that point.

[Interl0per]

I see this every so often at my field I frequent, and it's kind of in the same vein as number two; a more expensive marker does not make the player.

Personally, I've been playing with sub $250 markers for YEARS without being out-gunned.

The fun element is quickly forgotten in the competitive environment. In a weird way, I'm kind of excited when someone shoots me out. It means I'm playing to my limits.

After nearly 3 decades of varying frequency of play I've reached the conclusion that ~90% of the uber-guns out there are a 200-500% premium for bells and whistles that add maybe 10% performance for >100% hassles if not just marketing hype. It's died down a lot recently, there's just not the market there used to be for ROF improvements, everyone seems to finally understand all balls of the same mass at the same speed go the same distance etc. but the bling factor still comes into play and if that's your bag, more power to you, but neophytes should remember splash ano and milling and custom valve trains add zero to the ability to hit a target while avoiding being hit and that snazzy pneumatic setups are like jet fighters, they spend more time on the ground being maintained than they do dogfighting (at least for me, Tippmanns are the only semis I've ever picked up and had just work more than 90% of the time)

[Falcon16]

Well said. I used to be into the spaceguns, then discovered pump and guns like phantoms and PPS pumps that are simple but well built. Have options or upgrades that actually increase performance in some way etc. In the end hand a pro player a rental and he'll dominate most of the agglets that are playing with $2000 space gun setups.

I own 3 semis though one is a mag pistol and one is a GOG eNMEy. I haven't pulled out my Impulse in years.

I will say that the advances in technology have allowed very well made markers that years ago would have been $1000+ to get into the hands of just about anyone for a few hundred and I think that's a good thing. It means people are starting out playing with actual decent gear rather than buying the cheap blow backs at their local Walmart etc because that's all they can afford.

[Interl0per]

Falcon16 couldn't agree more the eNMEy and Emek are the best thing to happen to paintball in a decade or more hard to believe they barely cost more than a stock Spyder back in their heyday (not even counting inflation!)

[Falcon16]

Interl0per Agreed, Pick up a GOG eNMEy a 50/45 and a revvy and I you're pretty much set. Only thing that needs an upgrade on that gun is the barrel and you can easily tune the trigger to your liking. All said and done you could get easily set up for $400 or less including a good mask like a profiler.

[Interl0per]

3) Set yourself up with good peripherals... mask, mask bag, gear bag, barrel swab, pod swab if you use pods, GOOD TOOLS, tank cover (protect your investments)... it will pay for itself in the long run.

This can't be overstated, being able to quickly and easily take care of barrel breaks, mask hits, leaky o-rings, etc. etc. at the field will make your day so much better than that new weiner whistle

[Seajay]

I'd put #4 to the top of OP.

Make sure YOU are happy and comfortable, which means fed and hydrated. You can always change how you are playing or the field but if you are not in a happy place, no amount of paintballing, gear, or money will improve your day. Go in tired and thirsty, leave worse off.

To add, condition to how you want to play. If you intend to speed demon around the course, train for it. I'm not saying go pro, just exercise periodically, jog a bit, keep up stretches. This goes back to you as a person being in a state of well being.

Don't push past your limit, play to your limit. This is a game, so have fun.

[Falcon16]

Don't take the game too seriously. It's a game after all.

[DavidBoren]

Don't take life too seriously, or you'll never get out alive...

[grendal50]

I don't plan on getting out alive anyway...........of life anyway, and I'll leave behind a pile of cool toys and some debt.

[cellophane]

4) Drink water and eat properly before you play,, so you can play as much as possible when you're out there. In order to get better, you need trigger time. You can't play every match all day if you're falling out.

A corollary to this: don't forget to continue to drink lots of water while at the field playing. During the summer I'll go through a gallon or two of water for a day of practice / play and still feel dehydrated afterwards. Summers in KY are Hot and Humid 🤮

2. Field time. The more you play the more you develop fundamental skills.

+1
Go out on off days, set up some targets and snapshoot until it hurts to move. It will pay off. Also- take the time to learn good form. It will help immensely as well.

I would also add: Don't be afraid to ask for help / advice from people with more experience than you. Almost everyone I've talked to is more than willing to give advice & coaching if asked. Things like sticking around after practices to run extra drills and get help with technique go a long way.

[lew]

Go out on off days, set up some targets and snapshoot until it hurts to move. It will pay off. Also- take the time to learn good form. It will help immensely as well..

And keep your feet tucked in behind the bunker, cuz I'm one of those a-holes that likes to shoot people out cuz they left some small part exposed.

[OpusX]

True enough, happened to me last tourney. Totally my fault, I put my foot there.

[Falcon16]

Always play tight to your bunker. I'm that guy that I'll take any small part I find to shoot.

[lew]

Absolutely. That applies for any activity in which incoming fire is expected. Be aware of the angles, and stay close to cover. If it's practical, don't stay too close to cover so that you cannot manipulate your marker/weapon to affect return fire.