Paintball: Its a lot more than the usual couple of guys just shooting at each other in the woods. For all those whove played paintball, you already know that position and tactics are far more important than every other aspect of the game.
Many paintballers will tell you its all about the gun. Theyll point out the expert or veteran players who own high-end paintball markers with upgraded parts, electrostatic trigger systems, semi or even automatic fire. When compared to a rental Tippmann out of your local paintball field or arena, it almost seems unfair.
Yet while these kinds of weapons could make playing paintball much easier, they do not always create a bad player good. In other words, they can help even things out a bit, but nothing takes the place of really understanding how to experience the sport positionally. In that respect, paintball is a lot like a really fast, really awesome game of chess.
Paintball Bunkers and Obstacles
Bunkers are pivotal; they determine the ebb and flow of a paintball game. Whether youre playing capture the flag or any other game variation, the size and position from the bunkers is the best part of the paintball field.
You always want superior position when facing the enemy team. The way you do that is by taking (and holding) probably the most valuable bunkers. This requires teamwork and communication; everyone ought to pretty much know where they are going and what they hope to accomplish by the time the whistle blows. If youre all standing there shrugging at each other and never knowing what to do, your teams getting outflanked, outgunned, and outplayed.
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Taking bunkers close to the edges from the paintball field gives you a great bead on the middle or center. Using the central bunkers or positions provides you with good field control in general. Some of the best paintball tactics involve taking neighboring positions you can use to protect each other. This means you and your teammates are watching one anothers back, covering one anothers flank, and keeping the enemy from advancing forward to the point where they can shoot you from around or behind your cover.
High Ground vs. Low Ground
Paintball fields are not always level. If you can take a higher position than your opponent, it certainly is 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 running up that hill.
Always Operate in Twos and Threes
Moving forward to consider a situation? 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 youre going to get shot out of the game very in early stages.
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Someone should be firing on the enemy team whenever youre advancing, especially those within range of hitting you. Even when your teammates cant directly hit the opposing players, theyre a minimum of keeping them locked down for the reason that bunker or behind that tree of sufficient length to get making your move. So if you feel fast enough? They will not even see your advance, which makes them blind to you attacking them from that position.
Never Leave The Flag Undefended
Basic paintball strategy requires someone to hang back and guard the flag. Because if you do not, some of the faster enemy players could easily sweep in the sides from the paintball field and go without you understanding what happened.
In general, paintball beginners will want to hang back for the first couple of games to allow them to get a feel for whats going on. Assign these to the flag, and let them know to call back if they are getting advanced upon. You can always rotate players who have flag duty from game to game, but some paintball players actually prefer it.
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Put your Fastest Players Forward
Once the whistle blows, paintball players will rush to achieve just as much initial ground as you possibly can. The furthest bunkers you can take will give you a much greater range within the rest of the field than the closest ones.
For this reason, put your lightest and fastest players in to these assignments. They must be taking the center of the field, or the far-reaching obstacles no matter where theyre. The slower players can back them up in the rear positions, as can players with better guns that shoot further and straighter.

