Before the game begins, plan out your strategy with your teammates. Who, if anyone, is staying to guard the flag station? Who is flanking left, right, and tearing down the middle? Are there any special signals/words so that the team can synchronize efforts while the game is in play? New Comers often play like they are going it alone, but there is a reason why you have a team. Take advantage of it.

Right after break out, don't rush behind two other people. During the game, don't hop over to a bunker that's already occupied unless you are forced to. Two or more people sharing a bunker decreases mobility and makes you a more enticing target to the opposite team. Deciding your team's strategy beforehand goes a long way towards eliminating mass movements to one place.

If you are a shadowy sniper, the type of player people know must be around just because he hasn't been eliminated yet, then silence is of the essence. But for the most part, the opposite team is going to know where you are. In other words, you are not giving anything away by communicating with your team' except, perhaps the other team's position. If you notice an enemy flanking left, but you are too far away to reach them, let your teammates know. If you are planning on making a mad dash to the next bunker, go ahead and ask for cover.

Wouldn't it be nice if you never got shot? Well, maybe not, because the only way to ensure you won't get hit is to not play paintball. Still, there is something you can do to minimize your chances of being shot: be aware of yourself. When you "play tight," you make yourself the smallest possible target the entire time you are out on the paintball field. Here are some tips on how to do just that:

Remember that when you're playing paintball, your marker and any gear you are wearing is also part of you.

• Playing tight isn't just for when you're behind barriers. When you're on the move, stay low and make yourself a small target area by keeping your arms and gear close to your body.
• Keep in mind that the enemy isn't necessarily only in front of you. They can also move to your side. Because it's hard to keep a small profile sideways, be aware of your surroundings, and be prepared to eliminate an opponent who gets too close.

Top of Page

In every day life, it often helps to have a routine. But paintball isn't every day life! When playing, make yourself unpredictable:

I have little respect for paintball players who stomp around in the woods, like a moose in rutting season, or players who make more noise than a traveling mariachi band. Besides, nothing says "newbie" more to an experienced paintball player than a player who can't keep quiet on the move. There are ways to reduce your personal noise signature.

Shoes: Soft soled foot wear, like running shoes, are ideal for paintball. "Army" boots may look cool, but they make too much noise. Soft soled footwear, with proper ankle support, have a natural sound absorption property that hard soled combat boots do not.

Loaders and Hoppers: Half-filled loaders in your harness rattle unmercifully. There is a way around this. Your loader tube's capacity should be half of your paintball gun's hopper capacity.

Padding the tops of your bulk tubes also helps. You can buy precut foam inserts. However with some thin, closed cell foam, a pair of scissors and some double sided carpet tape, you can make your own.

Putting a neoprene cover on your hopper will reduce the sound of paintballs rattling around. Also, the thicker the hopper walls are, the less noise rattle paintballs will make.

Pouches: Paintball harnesses, holsters and other things should be snug, but not restrictive. Try to keep any pouches (in which you intend to keep paint) away from your legs, especially the fronts of your legs. When you walk and run, any pouches near your legs are going to move (and subsequently make noise).

If you just have a belt with some pouches on it, make sure the belt loops on the pouches are closer to the center of the pouch. If the loops are near the top, the pouch will have a tendency to flap around more than if the loops were closer to the center of the pouch. You can either buy new pouches, or re-sew the loops of your existing pouches into the proper position. The belt should be as wide as the loops on the pouches will allow. Any extra space will allow the pouches to move more, which means more noise.

Soft clothing: Coarse fabrics, like brand new cammies, will make a lot of noise when you brush against branches and foliage. Use a fabric softener when you wash your cammies, or what ever you play paintball in. Try to stay away from rough feeling fabrics.

Moving: Stick to paths and uncluttered surfaces if you have to move quickly. The faster you move, the more noise you're going to make. You can't have it both ways. If you have time, take it.

Conclusion: I realize that you might not be able to accomplish all of this, right off the bat. Like many things in paintball, it takes times to get things in order and get your game to where you want it. Keep working at it and soon you will be as quiet as a jungle cat. Well maybe not THAT quiet.

Top of Page