Paintball is a team shooting sport in which opponents are eliminated from play by hitting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules called “paintballs,” expelled from a special airgun known as a marker. It’s a fun and fast-paced game that requires strategic thinking, effective communication and coordinated teamwork to succeed. Understanding and applying basic paintball strategies and tactics can help players of all skill levels improve their game.
The origins of paintball can be traced back to the late 1970’s when Nelson Paint Company made a gas operated marker and paint-filled pellets to mark trees for the forestry and ranching industries, leaving a colorful mark on trees or cows from a distance. Charles Gaines and Bob Gurnsey rounded up a group of friends to organize the first paintball game on over one hundred acres of land in 1981, creating a new form of outdoor recreation that would grow into an international phenomenon in less than three decades.
Unlike many other action sports, paintball is non-contact and safe, with referees on the field to enforce safety and playing rules. Players are ejected from games and the playsite for breaking safety or playing rules, and no physical contact is allowed between players. Players must wear clothing and protective gear, including masks.
The top strategies for playing paintball involve efficient communication. This is because players must be able to quickly relay instructions to teammates and share information about opponent locations without giving away their own location. Some common communication tactics include hand signals, flanking, runner positioning and leap-frogging.