Paintball Safety
Safety is every players number one priority!
The information here is to help you learn the basics about paintball safety. Each safety tip has a related video to help you learn about the safety features of the paintball equipment that is used by the sport. Most of these videos can be found on the internet at sites like YouTube. Where appropriate playback of these videos has been compressed to provide the information and redact any advertising when possible.
Mask or Goggles - Always wear them!
When a game is being played, wear your mask at all times. Do not remove your mask for any reason until you are in a SAFE zone. There are no exceptions to this rule. Keep masks on until barrel covers have been placed back on all loaded guns. Remember that most severe paintball injuries occur because someone removed their mask at an inappropriate time.
Paintball Tip: How to choose a paintball mask!
Mike Peverill is a 30 year vetran of paintball. In this video he provids an overview of different types of paintball masks.
Shoot Less Than 300 FPS!
Keep paintball velocities under 300 (and generally under 280) feet per second (FPS). Paintball equipment is designed to safely withstand impacts up to 300 FPS. This is an industry standard and no reputable paintball field will allow anything faster. A paintball that travels at 300 FPS can cause small bruises, while a paintball that travels faster can cause significantly more damage including severe welts and broken skin. Gun speeds can be timed with a paintball chronograph (available to use at most pro shops), and should be tested prior to each time you go to play paintball. Gun speeds can change due to the environment you are playing in.
Paintball Tip: How to chronograph a paintball gun!
Mike Peverill is a 30 year vetran of paintball. In this video he explains the process of chronographing your paintball gun.
Know how to use the paintball gun!
To play paintball safely you must know how to operate the paintball gun you are using. This include how to place the gun in safe, how to de-cock the gun and how to use a barrel sock. Since there are so many different brand of paintball markers we selected a video using one of the most popular and common model made by Tippmann Sports.
Paintball Tips: How to Use a Paintball Gun or Paintball Marker
Mike Peverill is a 30 year vetran of paintball. In this video he provids an overview of how to operate a Tippmann Model 98 and its safety features.
Use Common sense
Remeber the saying "It's always fun till sombody get hurt". To play paintball safely you must use common sense and not do thing that could endanger yourself or other players. Always follow the rules for the park you are playing in. If you follow the rules everyone has fun and nobody gets hurt.
Paintball Tips: Basic Rules for Paintball
Paintball is an extreme sport with important rules to follow for the park you are playing in. Watch and learn some basic rules for paintball courses in this About.com video.