Do People Still Play Paintball?

[Myrkul]

I still play a fair amount, probably twice a month or so when the weather is good, once a month when it's not. Kids definitely slowed me down, there was a time when I was making it out every weekend. I've never really been into scenarios, and air ball is still feels pretty alien to me, but I have attempted a few tournaments. I just show up when I can and work with whatever rec crowd is there. I mix up my gear a lot to try and keep things balanced. I pretty regularly switch between old electros, mech semis, and pumps depending on the crowd. I can't remember the last time I only used one gun for a full day. It keeps things fresh and balanced, and more importantly for me let's me know what gun needs improvement and where, so I have constant projects to tinker with. I definitely end up spending way more time tinkering then I do playing, but the playing is important since it gives the tinkering some direction.

[gabe]

I play about 2-4 days a year. Like many others, I've seen the crowds diminish at the local field, a couple fields close up, and the remaining one is all that's left. The game is still fun for me but I think most of the fun for me personally is the gun collecting/building. I'm sure that's a common theme on this forum lol.

[evilfishsticks]

I try to get out at least once a month. I've still got 5 fields within an hour drive. The closest one (25 mins) is where I usually play and the walk on crowd is usually pretty good 30-60 paintballers on average I'd say. I started doing scenario games 2 years ago and try to do 2 a year schedule providing.

[JeepDVLZ45]

I try to get out at least 1x a month, usually 2x. Unfortunately work has been too demanding the past couple months. So I’ve only gotten out 1 time in the last 3 months…but I’m doing my best to get my numbers back up!!
My 9 year old is interested in playing more, so as long as she can take a hit (we’ll see) I can justify more play.

With the small outlaw field I’m building at my place, I should be able to bump those numbers up as long as people are willing to make the trek for some 12 gram paintball.

[The Hobbit]

Yes I look forward to the point when my kids are old enough to play. They seem to have an interest in the game at this stage, we will see if that exists when they come to the appropriate age.

[JeeperCreeper]

My 3 year old is deadly with her little nerf blaster. I hope she plays when she's old enough.

[smiffington]

Yes I look forward to the point when my kids are old enough to play. They seem to have an interest in the game at this stage, we will see if that exists when they come to the appropriate age.

What is the consensus of appropriate are to start playing? I've got some friends and family with kids around 11-12. I'm thinking of getting back into paintball this year, and hopefully hosting a few outlaw games. Could I drop fps to 260 and include them or is that a bit early?

I own the lion's share of the loaner fleet so it's easy to control the game environment from that perspective.

[The Hobbit]

I’ve played with kids as young as 4. That seemed a little too young. I don’t have a specific age in mind, one of those when I think they’re ready

[Cyberpyr8]

I have 6 kids and all have played and started at different ages. I think 12 is ideal but some kids can start earlier and be fine(ie - my girls were tougher!). But at 12 I think that most kids are old enough to handle equipment and not cry every time they get hit. At 10,most kids aren't really big enough to hold the gun and want a ton of padding which hinders their ability to move well. That extra padding also gives them a false sense of security that we all know isn't there. When they get hit outside the padding they are surprised it hurts.

At 12 they are willing to drop some of the padding and can run and move better. I have reffed 50 cal parties with younger kids and that's a good starting point for kids under 11. I say any kids under 6 shouldn't play any type of paintball. Just shooting, I think 6-10 is fine at 68 cal but getting shot and playing with the normal rec crowd, I will stick with 12+. One thing I have found is that younger kids will ALWAYS take off their masks when playing if they get hit or get shot out. I have seen it too many times and it's scary that small kids do that. So for 50 cal I think the target group is 8-11. 12+ for 68 cal and you're good.

[Grendel]

By most insurance minimum age is 10. Other then that it really depends on the maturity and drive to overcome discomfort which is individual.

[MrBarraclough]

I average about once a month. I might skip one or two months a year, but usually make up for it with playing twice a month once or twice each year. While I have dabbled in many hobbies, paintball is my main one and the one I am most willing to set aside time for. My limiting factor is how frequently (and when) my wife is willing to keep our daughter by herself all day. Since I don't play paintball as often as I would like, when I do play I am at the field when it opens and am usually the last player to leave.

Our daughter is 6 and in first grade. She doesn't play any organized sports, so we haven't yet gotten to the stage of having to plan around her hobbies but I'm sure that is coming. She recently joined the Girl Scouts as a Daisy, so we'll see what that does to our scheduling.

My local field is woodsball only and typically has a healthy turnout of birthday parties, small renter groups, and regulars like me. It's always open walk-on play as the field runs only one game at a time with everyone playing together, divided roughly equally by skill/equipment level. They do private groups only by appointment on weekdays, so Saturday is always open play. Turnout numbers have been a little lower on average this year, but not awful. I would attribute some of that to an usually hot and humid autumn (even by Gulf Coast standards). I was last out there the Saturday before Thanksgiving and total attendance for the day was slightly over 100, which I was told was the best day of 2024 so far.

A brand new field with airball and some other types of speedball fields opened in my home county back in October, but I haven't been out there just yet. I messaged the management and was told they were seeing mostly private parties on Saturdays and the walk-ons were turning up on Sunday. From their website, I get the impression that the field is meant to cater to the tourist trade, as they're situated just north of Gulf Shores, Alabama and their FPO paint price is pretty steep for non-members ($75/case).

[Sdawg]

Every Sunday.