Basic Paintball Tactics - How to Own the Paintball Field Paintball: It's a lot more than a couple of guys just shooting at each other within the woods. For those who've played paintball, you already know that position and tactics are much more important than every other aspect of the game.
Many paintballers will tell you it's all about the gun. They'll point out the expert or veteran players who own high-end paintball markers with upgraded parts, electrostatic trigger systems, semi as well as automatic fire. Compared to a rental Tippmann from your local paintball field or arena, it almost seems unfair.
Yet while these types of weapons can make playing paintball a lot easier, they don't always make a bad player good. Quite simply, they are able to help even things out a bit, but nothing takes the area of really understanding how to experience the game positionally. In that respect, paintball is a lot like a really fast, really awesome bet on chess.
Paintball Bunkers and Obstacles
Bunkers are pivotal; they determine the adapt of the paintball game. Whether you're playing capture the flag or any other game variation, the size and position of the bunkers may be the single most important aspect of the paintball field.
You always want superior position when facing the enemy team. The way you do this is by taking (and holding) probably the most valuable bunkers. This involves teamwork and communication; everyone should virtually know where they are going and what they aspire to accomplish by the time the whistle blows. If you are all standing there shrugging at each other and never knowing what to do, your team's going to get outflanked, outgunned, and outplayed.
Paintball MadridTaking bunkers close to the edges of the paintball field provides you with a great bead around the middle or center. Using the central bunkers or positions provides you with good field control generally. Some of the best paintball tactics involve taking neighboring positions that can be used to protect one another. What this means is both you and your teammates are watching each other's back, covering one another's flank, and keeping the enemy from advancing toward the point where they can shoot you against around or behind your cover.
High Ground vs. Low Ground
Paintball fields are not always level. If you're able to take a higher position than your opponent, it's always advantageous to do so. Never take the high ground without proper cover, however. Always have a tree, bunker, or obstacle you can use to hide behind before you run up that hill.
Always Work in Two's and Three's
Moving forward to consider a position? Make sure your buddy or teammate has you covered. Paintball requires LOTS of teamwork, so if you feel running too far ahead or working solo you'll get shot from the game very early on.
Paintball MadridSomeone should be firing around the enemy team whenever you're advancing, especially those within range of hitting you. Even when your teammates can't directly hit the opposing players, they're a minimum of keeping them locked down in that bunker or behind that tree long enough for you to make your move. And if you're fast enough? They will not even call at your advance, making them unaware of you attacking them from that position.
Never Leave The Flag Undefended
Basic paintball strategy requires anyone to hang back and guard the flag. If you don't, some of the faster enemy players could easily sweep in the sides of the paintball field and take it without you even understanding what happened.
Generally, paintball beginners may wish to hang back for that first couple of games to allow them to obtain a feel for what's going on. Assign them to the flag, and let them know to call back if they're getting advanced upon. You could rotate players who have flag duty from game to game, however, many paintball players actually prefer this position.
Paintball MadridPut your Fastest Players Forward
Once the whistle blows, paintball players will rush to achieve as much initial ground as possible. The furthest bunkers you can take provides you with a significantly greater range within the remaining field compared to closest ones.
For this reason, put your lightest and fastest players into these assignments. They should be taking the center of the field, or the far-reaching obstacles wherever they're. The slower players can back them up in the rear positions, just like players with better guns that shoot further and straighter.