Go Ballistic Paintball

Paintball is your chance to be a full-blown, take-no-prisoners, shoot-first-ask-questions-later action-hero! However, some paintball rookie’s out there might want to ask the odd question or two before they shoot. So here’s a quick-fire question and answer sesh that’s sure to turn you from coward to commando in just a few minutes.

What should I wear?

All paintball combatants are required to wear a protective mask at all times and often overalls to protect any clothing. Mask and overalls are supplied by the paintball facility and frequently additional gloves and body armour can also be rented.
Any budding soldier of fortune is going to want to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and comfortable shoes. Ignore anybody who suggests wearing lots of layers to nullify the feeling of taking a hit. The best way to avoid the feeling of getting hit is not to go paintballing in the first place! But then you’d miss out on all the breathless action and insane amounts of fun and excitement!
Too many layers are sure to make you less agile, and much more hot and sweaty. Wear comfortable clothes that allow a lot of movement, as you’re likely to spend most of the day running, rolling, ducking, diving, squatting, strafing and generally cutting loose and having a great time! You want to be able to do so as easily as possible!
The same applies to footwear. A comfortable training shoe will suffice, but you may wish to opt for more ankle support and cushioned sole, given the relentless activity. A light hiking boot is perfect. The heavier and sturdier the boot, the more it will limit your movement.

How old do I have to be to play?

As with many action sports, age limits can differ from one provider to another. But miniature militants are generally welcomed! Some venues set a minimum age limit of 12 years, others 11 or 14. All players under the age of 16 years are classed as minors and are required to wear full face protection by law, though this is strongly advised to adults anyway. Minors are also required to submit a parental consent form before taking part in war games.
It should be noted that age limits are not strictly representative of the levels of danger and harm involved in game play. Age restrictions are imposed due to the levels of mental duress that players may experience. Even an adult may experience feelings of fear when encountering a horde of enemy players with all guns blazing, and these feeling may be magnified in a younger player.
If your kid wants to hit the war zone but you’re unsure how they would react, why not visit a local paintball centre and let them view the game in action before placing a booking?

How fit do I need to be?

You don’t have to be built like Arnie to enjoy a paintball game…though it couldn’t hurt your chances! But this shouldn’t prevent you from taking part in this thrilling activity.
Physical fitness is relative when it comes to paintballing, because you get out what you put in. Instead of being the most active player, just try to box clever. Play to your fitness levels.
As with any sporting activity, all players should stretch and warm up thoroughly before taking part. This will help to prevent injury during the battle that ensues, as you’re far more likely to be injured by a pulled muscle than a killer paintball. This can easily be avoided, however, with some gentle preparation before the game.
If you’re fitness levels are extremely low, you may wish to consult a physician before participating. You may also wish to inform the owner of the facility of any medical conditions or allergies that you have.

Does paintballing accommodate Stag or Hen Groups?

Paintballing is a fantastic experience for stag and hen parties. It is a chance to cut loose, go crazy and make a mess…the direct opposite of the formal stuffiness of the marriage ceremony!
As increasingly adventurous stag and hen groups look for more exhilarating pursuits than the bar/pub crawl, paintball is establishing itself as a stag and hen night favourite. It’s a no-holds-barred action spectacular, which gives you the chance to bond with your mates in exciting combat scenarios…and also pummel them with pump-powered paint!
Many of the venues available through Go Ballistic offer exclusive Stag Hunt and Hen Fight packages. These events include special offers on things like paintballs and smoke bombs, but also involve special treatment for the stag or hen in question!
Some venues offer a typical paintball package along with an additional bonus game in which the stag is chased into the woods by his ‘friends’. Can he avoid the shower of paintballs? And if he can’t, will he take anybody down with him? This is great way to give the lucky guy one last hazing on his second biggest day.
But it’s not just the guys having all the fun. Paintball is becoming increasingly popular as a way of raising the curtain on hen parties too! As a break from the norm paintball combat is hard to beat. It’s a chance for any lovely lady to let her hair down and unleash her inner G.I. Jane!
You may even wish to organise a Hen vs Stag event, though that might place the whole marriage in jeopardy.
These activities are offered in full or half day packages. Full day events include a complimentary lunch.
The helpful guys at Go Ballistic can provide all the information you need regarding venues around the UK and the events that each of them offer. They can also put together packages which include transport, accommodation and additional events in the area, such as karting, shooting and many many more. Guys might want to wash away the paint marks with an awesome water sport event, while what better way for the girls to recover after battle than coupling it with a luxury day spa experience. Give us a call for more details.

How long will a paintball session last?

Exact game times will differ from one venue to the next. In general, however, you can expect most paintball games to last for 20 to 30 minutes with 10 to 15 minutes break between games.
A typical half day session should last around 3 hours, while a full day session around 5 hours 30 minutes.
More than enough to single-handedly win the battle and the war!

How many games can I expect to take part in?

A frantic paintball session is generally made up of 5 or 6 games for a half day session and 10 to 12 games for a full day.
Each game features different objectives for both teams, in which they will be required to demonstrate stealth and strategy…oh, and fire as many balls of paint at the enemy as they possibly can!

Will we have exclusive use of the gaming area?

Only extremely large groups may enjoy exclusive use of the battleground. Paintball is an expansive team game played over a large area and there is more than enough room to accommodate large teams.
Plus the more guys that are involved the more targets you’ll have to shoot!

Does it hurt?

This is the question on every newcomer’s lips. The answer is simple: sometimes.
Usually, you’ll feel a slight sting when you take a hit. This sensation only lasts a matter of seconds, and is similar to a firm flick or pinch.
Paintballs can cause some small bruising depending upon the distance from which they are fired, the speed that they travel and the area of your body they hit. The amount of pain also depends on how you’re dressed. When the pellet breaks and splatters, the degree of pain is not as great. A paintball to bare skin is likely to bruise, but simply wearing a long sleeve top will likely avoid bruising to the areas it covers.
The thicker the clothing that you decide to wear, the lesser the effect of the paintball, but thick clothing is cumbersome, awkward and very hot. A loose outer layer will generally absorb the majority of the impact and most paintball establishments provide camouflaged overalls which will do this job for us. You may also decide to wear gloves as a shot to bare hands will definitely hurt.
Your head is protected by the mask and goggles provided and stray pellets to this region will not be felt.
Basically, throughout the day you can expect to feel a moderate amount of pain. But this really is half the fun! It is the fear or anticipation of the physical pain that pumps adrenaline through your body making this one of the most exhilarating games that you can experience.

How many paintballs will I need?

If Rambo liked the game, you could probably paint a small house with the amount of ammo he’d get through. The rest of us, however, should be able to get the most out of this thrilling action sport without breaking the bank.
On average, a player uses between 400 and 800 balls during a full days play or 300 over half a day.
It all depends on your style of play. The more methodical and stealthy soldier will conserve more ammunition than the loose-cannon paint-splattering maniac! You are the only one holding your paintball gun and you decide how many paintballs fly out of it.
The itchier that trigger finger of yours, the more you’re going to need!

Can we buy extra paintballs on the day?

If you waste more paint than a modern artist, you are able to purchase ammunition as and when you need it. All paintball establishments will offer better deals if you buy your balls in bulk ahead of the event.
The Go Ballistic team will be able to fill in you in on exact details regarding prices at your local venue.

Can I bring my own paintball ‘marker’ and paintballs?

Marker is the industry term for the pistol-like contraption that propels your paintballs. Whether or not you are free to use your own is at the discretion of your chosen paintball venue. Feel free to take it along and allow them to check it out. If they’re not happy for you to use it, they’ll provide you with another marker on the day.
Your munitions will have to be purchased from the facility. You’ll have to save those home-made paint pellets for target practice on the neighbour’s cat!

Will food and drink be available?

A light lunch is available for a full day’s battle and most venues also offer some snacks and beverages.
Speak to the Go Ballistic guys or check out the website for specific information about each venue.

What happens if it rains?

You get wet.
The game isn’t greatly affected by the rain (which is a relief considering we get so much of it) and games will go ahead in the vast majority of weather conditions. Rain can potentially fog a player’s mask, but as the games are played out largely in wooded areas, they are shielded from the elements to an extent. While the games are played mostly out of doors there are sheltered areas at base camp where the players can take cover from the rain during the intervals.
Generally, the game will go ahead so long as you and your party are happy to yourselves. You should also be aware that rain may be considerably heavier in your area than at the site. This may affect your decision but don’t forget that paintball is an all-weather activity that can be played all year round.

Is paintball suitable for school groups?

Yes, paintball is a fantastic event for school groups and is quickly growing into a popular activity. It promotes teamwork, strategy, skill, physical activity and fun.
Contact Go Ballistic to make the necessary arrangements and then watch the controlled carnage unfold.

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and head out for your first paintballing trip. Well why wait until you get there to start thinking about the game when you could just read this handy guide for new players instead?

First off – never, ever, take your paintball mask/goggle system off unless you’re in the safe zone or have been given the green light from your marshal. This point cannot be emphasised enough – NEVER TAKE YOUR MASK OFF IN THE GAME ZONES, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ARE IN THE DEAD ZONE. Paintballs travel at around 200mph, so is it really worth risking your eyesight? Exactly. If the site you’re at doesn’t provide face masks then run a mile and never go back.

Make sure you know how your marker works and that you know how to operate the safety catch. Trust us, there’s nothing worse than unintentionally unloading a paintball into your mate’s back or, even worse, your own foot. Be aware of how to get shot pots out of your battlepack and how to reload your hopper. Doing this without spilling ammo is a real skill you might as well start mastering from the word go. Also, make sure the hopper is full before each new game – you’d be amazed how many rookies run out a few seconds into battle.

Honesty is usually the best policy in life and however tempting it may be to do otherwise, honesty is ALWAYS the best policy in paintball. Think about it – the game these days can be so fast that unless you call yourself out when hit, the marshals will always be playing catch up. And that ruins the game.

When you’re eliminated, make sure you raise your marker and quickly head for the Dead Zone. We’ve all seen players wondering about aimlessly after being shot who are then surprised when they keep getting hit. It’s not rocket science – so just get out of the way!

Avoid tunnel vision and learn to ‘play tight’. Tunnel vision is the worst crime a new player can commit because he or she gets focussed on one target and so lacks any self-awareness which makes the enemy’s task a whole lot easier. ‘Playing tight’ means presenting as small a target as possible to the enemy. This should be done when taking cover and while advancing through a game zone.

Keep moving and don’t look out from the same spot all the time when taking cover. A moving target will keep the enemy on the back foot and prevent them locking you down. If you are behind cover, vary the place you take a look from because if you don’t, they’ll be a shedload of paint heading your way.

If you are hit but there’s no mark, keep playing. Only paintballs that leave a tell-tale ’splat’ will count. Whether head/hand/marker shots count will vary between sites so make sure you are aware of the rules BEFORE you start playing.

Wear correct footwear – your boots don’t have to ‘combat-ready’ but they should provide ankle support and a good grip because things can get muddy under foot. Footwear is likely to get dirty and covered in paint so it’s best to leave your brand new trainers at home. Some players recommended studded football boots but they’ll be no good on concrete paths so steer clear of them in those circumstances.

Finally, don’t surrender – even if you run out of paint, gas or heart – unless you are injured and cannot physically carry on! An empty marker can still be fired to give the illusion of a fully-armed player which will keep an enemy pinned down for longer than if you simply headed off for the Dead Zone.

First things first, let’s clarify what the term ‘bunkering’ actually means. Bunkers can be defined as any barrier that you use to conceal yourself from the enemy. So rather than just being ditches in the ground, we refer to all barriers, barricades and inflatables as bunkers. So carrying on the theme, bunkering is the art of attacking an opposition player’s cover with the intention of taking them out of the game.

Bunkering actually brings us to an issue most rookies will encounter and that’s the minimum distance you need to be away from somebody in order to shoot them. Put another way, here at Go Ballistic we normally instruct our players not to shoot within ten feet without giving someone the chance to surrender. If they don’t give up then by all means let ‘em have it!

Bunkering is the elimination of a player from close range either by getting them to surrender or shooting them. So how to you get up close and personal in the first place without making yourself a sitting duck out in the game zone. The answer is teamwork and communication.

On the face of it, moving forward to an enemy position looks like a high-risk manoeuvre because you’re putting your neck on the line and flirting with the very real danger of being eliminated. But fortune favours the brave and paintball games are rarely won by standing still. So how do you stack the odds in your favour?
The answer is to make sure you have at least one (and hopefully more) team mate ’singing from the same hymn sheet’. This means you must agree which one of you is going to be aggressive and which will sit back and offer all-important covering fire. That’s where the communication comes into play.

The covering player (often called the back player in tournament play) must keep a steady stream of fire at the target who is going to be bunkered. This will have the effect of keeping them distracted while the bunkering player (or front player) makes his move forward. The front player should keep his fire rate down to avoid giving the game away.

It’s now important to study where the target likes to fire from because that will reveal his blindside. Obviously a good player will pop out from various points but there will be a time when he is favouring one side so that’s the time to make your move. A signal to your back player will let him know when to go ballistic with his firing in order to make the target as defensive as possible.

The target should now just be thinking about staying out of the way of the back player’s paintballs so it’s perfect for an aggressive bunker raid. Either going over the top or to the enemy player’s blindside will give the best chance of success. Remember to give him the chance to surrender but also make sure you are ready to fire if he won’t go down without a fight.

There are a couple of other tips to maximise your chances of pulling this tactic off. Front players can try to engage the opposition’s back players in order to hamper their communication with their own front man. The best way to do this is by snap shooting because too much firing will reveal your position and possibly give the game away too.

Also, moving just a couple of feet back from your own bunker will reveal better angles and give you a better view of the field. And it’s vital to remember that the enemy may be trying to bunker you so watch for the warning signs! After all, practice really does make perfect in paintball.