Word of advice for the uninitiated...

[Seajay]

No way, that's really subjective based on who is playing.

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You are right, my bad. Let me try again.

Paintball is a Dopamine fueled game.

Or

Paintball is Dope. (for short).

[Trbo323]

I think it's more apt to say "Paintball is an adrenaline fueled game". ).

No way, that's really subjective based on who is playing.

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[Seajay]

I think the phrase "it's only a game" and alternatives of that phrase needs a slight tweak. This is a competitive adrenaline fueled sport. While not everyone is running around like loons, sitting comfortably in a bunker and getting a few people out is super satisfying and gets those endorphins flowing. People experience different joys and stresses, but everyone does experience them.
I think it's more apt to say "Paintball is an adrenaline fueled game". You can have your own fun just don't be shocked at the huge range of emotions found on the field, and don't take any of it personally (unless it's personal then screw that guy).

[ChoSanJuan]

That and if it all takes a crap at the same time, you have to take it all apart and troubleshoot one part at a time... So why do it twice?

[Cyberpyr8]

If you really want to switch markers out, I have found getting a barrel system you like and feel comfortable with helps. I look at the same barrel tip no matter which gun I'm shooting. I have been using my Sly system with a 16" barrel for years now. I have SP and AC threaded backs for most of the guns I will ever use. I have recently switched to a Carbon 14" and though I'm still getting used to it, I find it doesn't matter which gun it's attached to. I know where to point it to hit my target.

I agree with some of you about the first gun you own. I don't miss my first gun at all. Now my first high end gun, I should have never sold. If you are sentimental about stuff then hold on to that first gun. Otherwise, you probably won't care. I swap guns all the time and there are very few that I wish I still had. I like to buy, use and re-sell. But one of my boys is more sentimental than me and doesn't want to let go of anything. I don't feel that way but I get it.

For me, playing paintball comes down to 3 areas that make it perfect for me. 33.33% of it is the people at the field. I love being able to go and talk about paintball to people that might actually listen and care. Maybe not as much as I do but heck I can talk paintball and not see their eyes glaze over. My wife and friends don't want to hear about it. 33.33% of it has to do with the equipment. I love the gear. I am always wanting to try new gear and see what I like best. I like getting my gear ready to play and cleaning it up after. And the final 33.33% is the competition and challenge. I'm not as competitive as I used to be but I still want to go out and play well. I want to get out on the field and shoot. I enjoy pushing myself to get better. That's what makes paintball the perfect sport for me. I have fun because I get to do those 3 things every time I go play. Even if I don't get to talk too much or I didn't have my gear work right, I still can manage to have fun.

[sniper97]

My first marker was a F2, don't miss it. Mostly have played with a CCM S6 for the last 12 yrs, I don't play alot, but snap shooting, you know where the paint is going. End of a day of paintball, tried a different S6, different grips, threw me off. I could come close, but was not as accurate. Good advice in this thread.

[glaman5266]

Good post.

"I don't know the price point these days to get such a mask, but I would avoid any "starter" masks."

Many starter masks are not very good, but pretty much every mask is rated for adequate eye protection. What you're really paying for is fit, finish and comfort. To elaborate:
You get what you pay for when it comes to paintball masks. If the one that fits your face best and has the protection you want then BUY IT. Regardless of price. If a $50 JT Proshield is what works best for you, then buy it. If that $100+ mask works for you then buy it. Go to a proshop and try a bunch on and buy the one that works best for you. Your comfort is incredibly important if you plan on spending a bunch of time playing. Price should NOT be a factor in a mask purchase.

Starter masks will provide adequate eye protection. They are just fine. But it NEEDS to fit your face properly & provide the face/jaw/neck protection you want. If a starter mask works for you, then great. It'll do the job. But consider as many options as you can.

As for price, I would look into anything $50 and above. The JT Proshield is a solid choice for a starter mask & I use them almost exclusively. I actually switched from my "higher end" E-Flex to the Proshield a couple years ago, and I've been playing for 18 years & owned many different masks. They run about $50.
The only one under $50 I would consider would be the Empire Helix. I have one (well, an older model with slightly better foam), and they are pretty comfortable & don't pinch any part of your head. Solid frontal protection too, though the jawbone coverage is slightly lacking if you have a large/tall head. They usually go for $40.

[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.

[Tolgak]

I got some things to add, especially for players who know they want to make this a regular hobby.

1. A good mask is the most important starter purchase. While you ultimately need to shoot or tag to eliminate an opponent, the ability to get to good positions on the field is what will get you those good elimination opportunities. You are most helped in this regard by a mask that has a clear, fog resistant lens with a structure that lets you hear and speak and breathe easily. Overall comfort removes the distraction of scratchy foam around your eyes and hard plastic on your ears. Easy disassembly helps make quick work of cleaning it between rounds. Buy a microfiber cloth and spray bottle to go with it. Don't shove it in a gear bag without protecting the lens from scratches. I don't know the price point these days to get such a mask, but I would avoid any "starter" masks. The other thing is footwear. Sneakers ain't it. Jungle boots or work books ain't it either. You want something lightweight with good grip. Football cleats are a good all-around option, as are certain hiking shoes. There are also shoes designed specifically for paintball. I've heard good things but they are more speedball oriented than anything else. Have good ankle support for woods.

2. Focus on having fun for your first few outings. Your best bet is to be with people of similar skill. If you're getting steamrolled all day, change who you're playing against or change what kind of game is being played. If this is at a public field, try to organize a new-player / rental only game. All that being said, it's good to have fun but it's fun to be good. In order to get good, you need to push yourself once you start getting comfortable with the game. When in doubt, you'll learn better from taking bigger risks than you will from avoiding risk outright. As an example, if you're pinned behind a bunker by someone else, don't wait for some arbitrary moment that he might go away, take the risk and see if you can turn the tables on him... take the risk to try to pin him down. By doing this, you're learning the habits of how players decide to take cover, and you will better learn how to make the same decisions. If you're ever torn between making a play for another bunker and not, take a quick look then take the chance. The first few times you try this you'll probably get shot, but you'll start to pick up on the kinds of signs that tell you if the coast is clear or not. Learn how to pin down an adversary with a single shot at a time. You'll scare a new guy by shooting his bunker, but you'll scare anybody if they have to dodge a well-placed shot every time they lean out to shoot.

3. Gun selection: I think the best way to learn the game is with mechanical semi-auto and one hopper per round (don't even carry pods). Pump players can attest to this, movement and smart shooting do more to contribute to success than volume of fire. The best way to learn this is by having a gun that allows you to play comfortably but isn't a crutch. I think the learning curve with pumps is too high for a new guy trying to have fun. If you're going to upgrade the gun, the only thing I recommend is a freak barrel and insert kit for accuracy. Once you gain confidence that your skill alone is positively contributing to your success (and that of your team), then I would say go for a pump and play even more limited. I played for nearly 2 years straight with just a PGP and the 22+1rounds I could cram into the gun (thanks PPS). I had no replacement 10 round tubes, just a single extra 12 gram because I didn't change those between rounds. I don't think most people need to be that limited, but it's with that handicap that I learned how to win gunfights against guys with Angels and Shockers in anything from woods to speedball. Picking up an electro after playing with such limits just feels unfair. Get a great squeegee. Breaks are going to happen, it's crazy how much damage they do to your ability to shoot straight.

4. Here are common behaviors of unskilled players that don't help you, and solutions for when you notice you're doing them.

• Being out of range of the firefight for no good reason, or being behind cover (to the point where you can't see beyond your bunker) where you have no chance of being shot. Paintballs have very short range (with the exception of FSR or Apex/Flatline). You can generally stand completely in the open about 20-50 feet beyond where the paint from the closest opponents is bouncing on the ground. It can be advantageous to lurk around back there to figure out where to go next, or to provide guidance to teammates; but if you want to tag people, you gotta get closer. When you're safely out of range of your opponents, they are also safely out of range of you. It's pretty-much pointless to shoot back.
• Having your back against a bunker (facing away from the adversary). You're not much safer than if you are facing forward, but are drastically increasing the effort and time it takes to peek out and take a shot. If you need to be tight against a bunker for cover, face the edge of the bunker where the threat is coming from and push your shoulder into it. Have your barrel pointed toward the edge to speed up your reaction time to threats. Be careful not to...
• ...Unintentionally stick your gun/body parts outside of cover. The amount of times I've tagged a guy in the heel or knee or hopper or barrel... I can't even count.
• The newbie squat. Experienced guys will know exactly what I'm talking about. A player squatting on the balls of their feet (horrendously unstable and hard to getup'n'go), holding their gun forward, up, and away from the body (not a stable shooting platform, can't possibly be aiming). The other bad habit is tucking the tank under the armpit. Hold a paintball gun like you're holding a rifle. Put the back of the tank into your shoulder. Rest the front of the gun in your forward hand. Have a relaxed grip with your trigger hand. Aim along the barrel. As for posture, if you're standing in a bunker, stand in a comfortable position from which you can rotate your torso. Don't be afraid to mess with your footing. If you need to stay tight against the bunker, stand with with your belly and crotch facing the bunker (think pancaking your body against it, especially if it's an inflatable). If you need to crouch, be on one knee.
• Clustering into one bunker. If there are empty bunkers nearby, but you and your crew are all piled into one, you've put yourself at a horrendous disadvantage. If you need a basic gameplan to build off of, send one person to a defensible bunker (as a new guy, I would consider "defensible" as something that can easily be maneuvered behind without exposing yourself to enemy fire) as far as he can to the left, send another as far as possible to the right. With more than two on your team, send the third guy up the middle. With more than that, at least spread out to all available bunkers at the close side of the field. With experience, you'll learn how to make better decisions for each field.
• Running around with a dirty mask/gun. Your mask is your lifeline. It protects you from total blindness, but also enables you to actually see and hear the environment. Clean it between rounds. Your gun's ability to shoot straight and stay functional depends minimizing dirt inside. Clean the barrel and chamber (at minimum) after a break. Clean the internals when you can. If the gun has any parts exposed to open air, keep those parts clear of soil or sand. With that, using paint found on the ground is an absolute last resort. If you're at that point, you've shot too much anyway. More than likely that paint you found is going to break when you shoot it. Don't forget that many fields allow barrel tagging or patting the bunker as a means of eliminating people. You can also convince someone to surrender. These methods of eliminating people are often more satisfying than shooting a person. One of my favorite 10 minutes of paintball was a 4v4 where I single-handedly eliminated the entire opposing team by shooting 2, then (out of ammo) scaring the other 2 by running up on them and yelling surrender as I unexpectedly appeared around the edges of their bunkers.

[Falcon16]

Great point lots of things are ok this will make the shot smoother but as a consequence it's going to decrease efficiency etc

[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.

[flyweightnate]

Keeps the target protected from incoming

[Memornix]

XEMON, I wish I could like comments. This is the story of my life.

[TomsGunShow]

Don’t feel you need to do all the upgrades at once. Do one upgrade at a time and see how it improves your paintball gun. If you do a bunch of upgrades all at once it’s hard to measure the improvement it provides

Heck, most of these so-called 'upgrades' decrease performance in one aspect while increasing performance in another aspect, making it more of a 'tuning choice' than an upgrade, IMO.

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[woouulf]

Best advice ever!! Shoot, dont get shot!