Anyone else go to the field by yourself?

[maninblack2k]

Generally by myself. Friends are always a hit of miss and PB has faded almost totally out of the picture since the early 2000's when it was the cool sport to play. My oldest son should be going with me for his first time soon. Looking forward to making that a good experience for him on his first time out.

[Brokeass_baller]

Anyone else go to the field by yourself?

Well yeah, but only because I don't have any friends...

[MrBarraclough]

I have no problem going alone, though usually at least one of my friends goes too. I average just once a month normally, and one of my buddies is pretty good about going when he's not traveling for work, so we'll usually coordinate a weekend we are both free. But if our schedules don't align I don't let that stop me. I know the field staff and many of the regulars; some more by face than name, but well enough to feel perfectly comfortable.

Often I try to bring new people along to introduce them to the sport, but I generally don't try to schedule around their availability anymore. The role of armorer/quartermaster for my friend group tends to fall to me, and usually I enjoy it, being something of a gearhead. But that also means that sometimes I really enjoy just playing paintball and being responsible for no one but myself. One thing I make a point of doing is posting about playing on social media ahead of time, letting anyone reading know that if they're interested in trying paintball but hesitant to just show up to the field by themselves, they can expect to see me there and I'll be glad to help and answer questions.

Going alone is probably a little more awkward at fields with multiple playing fields and players sorted into smaller groups. I suppose I am lucky in that my home field has everyone just play together all the time, red vs blue. No need to hop in with anyone, and the refs are happy to have solo players who aren't trying to stay with their buddies as that makes balancing the teams easier. But even at the former field type, becoming acquainted with the refs as a reliable good sport who can moderate his playstyle to match different groups should quickly make you a welcome sight.

Bonus tip: Want to quickly earn goodwill at a new field? Go buy a few packs of cheap, jersey knit utility gloves, like the 5 pair for $5.49 brown ones at Harbor Freight, and pass them out to renters. I bring a bag with 20-25 pair in it and some cheap scissors for cutting the fingers off, plus a mesh laundry bag for returning any gloves people don't want to keep, and hang them up in the staging area. I usually get 2/3rds-3/4ths of them back and toss the mesh bag in the wash when I get home. Every two or three outings I'll top it off with a fresh pack of gloves or two. Renters are the bread and butter of fields, so the staff will appreciate you looking out for them.

[Raven911]

I was. I usually take my daughter with me now, and my friend Paradigm usually comes along. The rest of my team quit years ago.

[Casualwarrior]

I’ve showed up to meet some friends/family before and poof, everyone flakes. So I ended up playing alone and got used to it. The wife started coming to hang out at the truck and read but before I knew it, she wanted her own setup. Got her an Emek setup and she got hooked. Now if she knows I’m going alone she wants to tag along. Long gone are the days where I enjoyed playing tournaments and competition style games, all seems like a hassle now. All the drama and seeing guys get worked up for what, nothing at all. I have just as much fun helping to get her into a good position and seeing her get all happy every time she gets someone out, and then talk about it the rest of the day like she was a pro. That’s what keeps me coming back.

[warhead]

I go alone when no one else can make it, I prefer going with friends, but I do make a lot of friends when going alone. I like having someone to talk to on the hour drive home so I don’t fall asleep at the wheel after playing 8 hours!

[Grendel]

For me I like the drive back alone, gives me an opportunity to listen to an audiobook but then I am a loner by nature.

[Chuck E Ducky]

You know I been doing a lot of audio books lately. My library card gives me access to a bunch of great options to.

[Impactfour]

I'm the same way. I don't like making the long drive after a full day, especially if I'm by myself. But I'll go by myself to the local field every Saturday if I can.

[procarbie]

All these posts are really heartening to read! I’ve been out of the game for 15 or so years, and just this year gotten the itch to get back into it. All the old buddies I used to play with are scattered about the country now, and have silly things like “families” that take up a lot of their free time. I’ve been having a bit of pre-emptive social anxiety about going to nearby fields alone, but it’s good to know that a lot of other folks are in my situation.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Just get out there. Talk to people. You know you already have something in common to get the conversation going. Paintball. Meet new people to play with. Between Covid and Social media it’s got everyone’s social skills all twisted. Nothing to be anxious about really. Paintball players are super chill and love to talk about there gear. It’s a good place to start.

[Impactfour]

I moved across the country for college, and then across it again for a job. Paintballing was one of the few places I've been able to meet new people and form friendships with them. Shared hobbies are great places to get over the anxiety of social interactions because of the mutual interest and fun distractions.

[Casualwarrior]

Generally by myself. Friends are always a hit of miss and PB has faded almost totally out of the picture since the early 2000's when it was the cool sport to play. My oldest son should be going with me for his first time soon. Looking forward to making that a good experience for him on his first time out.

That’s great, keeping the younger generation in the sport is the only thing that’s going to keep paintball going! Remember back in the early 2000’s when ESPN used to broadcast pro tournaments and always say it was the “fastest growing extreme sport” in the nation, now “professional paintball” is seen on the same level as pro airsoft or pro RC car racing, just another hobby people like to get bragging rights in. I have a couple medals at home hanging around somewhere, every now and then people will ask about em, when I say the medals were from a paintball tournament, they practically roll their eyes at me. But it’s okay, playing with friends and family on a weekend and enjoying a good lunch talking about who shot who is all it’s about.

[Nuppydog]

I typically go alone, but usually see and connect with a few regulars at the local field. I really only enjoy playing pump and mech and nothing serious. I enjoy helping and chatting with new players and often their parents, so it adds a social element to the day. I have one rule now - as soon as I stop smiling, I pack it up for the day. I have no room in my life for the screaming, cursing, and fighting that sometimes breaks out.

[Cyberpyr8]

That's kind of how I determine when I'm done too. Either I'm not enjoying it like I should (bad day, too hot, not playing well...) or they are kicking us all out because it's closing time. I normally like to help others out and talk people to see why they came out. I went on Saturday and it was about 97* degrees out and I wasn't in a talkative mood. I played and had a few conversations with the regulars but overall I kept to myself and when I had had enough was able to just pack up and go home. I didn't really feel it and wasn't enjoying it for whatever reason. It was all good and I can't wait to go next time. Years ago I went because I wanted to play and my kids were going with me. If I didn't feel like doing it, I went anyway. That all added up to really not enjoying the game like I should have.

[Nish]

Since moving south I do. Sometimes I will meet people I know there but most of the time I just show up as a loan walk on and find a way to fit in.

[Lotus]

I pretty much only go to the field by myself. Not by choice, but my best friend who I met playing paintball is now on the other side of the country. I did run into an old coworker at the field, but other than that and other acquaintances I've met at the field, it's just me.

Definitely it's good to have friends, but going alone and making friends (or just acquaintances) is just fine.

[Siress]

Of course. That's how you get to know new folks! Don't even sweat it.

[ThatDude812]

Every Sunday! May be awkward at first but it has benefits. Like others have said when you stop having fun, it’s too hot or you just get tired you can call it day. You’re not stuck their or obligated to be there like you might with be a group of friends or a team. You’d be surprised how accommodating everyone tends to be. Never had issues with teams letting me jump in and practice with them. I haven’t had any trouble find teams to guest with at tournaments either. After a 15 year hiatus its been surprisingly easy to just jump back in. Even at the more competitive level.

On a side note if anyone in the Nashville area wants to get together for a practice one weekend send me a message!

[Eggy Weggs]

Recently got back into it here in the Atlanta area after many years out. Started playing in 1996 and was really regular with my buddies and whatever we passed off as our "team" through about 2006. Then life and school really took off. Now I've got three little boys and I needed to get out of the house, but alas, my boys are too small, my friends moved away or got too fat (they're excuse, not mine) and new acquaintances and friends are always busy or flake. So I just started showing up at Paintball Atlanta (basically the only place I could find that I remember from bird). I like the field and ownership but it was kind of shocking seeing the changes. They got their bread and butter rental gig going nicely. I showed up with my old automag alone, had a great time, pulled a hamstring. Reupped my gear and got spares hoping for friends to tag along. No dice yet. Ha. Been fun playing pump with the rental folks so they get to light me up haha. Boys will definitely come with me when they're old enough. Wondering if there's much of an MCB presence in the Atlanta area.

[Tippster]

I play at Paintball Atlanta, and Arkenstone quite a bit, usually rock my custom phantom! I played last season with Blue Ridge Paintball and there were a few of us with pumps, a couple days ran a 2 v 2 pump only game!

[nerdcore]

I'm part of a group that has monthly meetup (weather permitting). Group members are spread across 2 states so they rotate fields. I don't like to travel so I usually wait until the local field is in rotation. Other times I roll solo, which isn't that bad when you recognize the regulars. Or are one of the regulars.