Undeniably exciting and admittedly addicting, paintball’s popularity has increased significantly in recent years. Today there are tens of millions of paintball enthusiasts in the United States alone. This is the ultimate collection of resources for anyone who is into paintball on any level. For the beginner, the expert, and for everyone else – you’ll find what you need here. If you want to know how to find nearby playing fields, what to consider when shopping for equipment, proper etiquette and terminology, and anything else about the game, you’ve come to the right place.
Paintball may seem like a difficult hobby to break into. First, there’s all of the necessary equipment and accessories. Then, you have to find somewhere to go – and people to go with. And they all need gear, too. While it’s true that a bit of forethought goes in to planning a perfect paintball experience, you don’t need to overthink it. Most places rent out gear if you’re not ready to commit to buying your own and it’s easier than ever to connect with other players near you to plan games. These links will take you to beginner-specific information. You’ll get a basic explanation of the rules and objectives of paintball, some good tips about etiquette, plus a whole lot more.
Field Finder — This guide, from Warpig.com, will help you find a place to play no matter where you are in the U.S. Just click on your state and you’ll be shown a list of area paintball fields along with additional information about rates, property logistics, and so on.
Paintball Beginners Guide — This simple guide from Bass Pro Shops runs you through the basics of paint balling, like what you should wear, how to avoid being ambushed, and more.
Paintball Hints for Beginners — This is a more comprehensive guide for beginner paintball enthusiasts who want to delve a little deeper into the game. Visit the page to find out more equipment comparisons, playing techniques, and game variations.
Paintball for Beginners — This About.com article also provides good in-depth information for first timers to help you feel more comfortable and confident when you step out onto the field.
Playing paintball requires a considerable amount of gear and if you’re going to be playing on a regular basis, it’s wise to consider purchasing your own. Don’t run out and spend a fortune on paintball equipment before you’ve done some research, though. Use these resources to help you make an educated buying decision. Find out what factors you should consider, read user reviews on existing products, and much more.
Choosing Your First Paintball Marker — Try this eBay Buyer’s Guide to help you figure out how to choose the best paintball gun for you. You don’t have to buy your gear from eBay, but the article will give you a lot of insight into what you need to think about before you purchase any paintball accessories.
PB Nation Reviews — This page leads to an extensive collection of user-generated product reviews for every make and model of paintball accessory there. If you’re comparing gear, look here first to help you make the best decision on what to buy.
How to Choose Paintball Guns — This is a great article on how to find a good paint gun. Find out what you need to consider in order to pick the one that’s most suited to your needs.
Paintball Equipment Reviews — Here you’ll find an extensive listing of equipment review articles about all kinds of different paintball gear. Look around the blog for other great paintball related posts, too.
As paintball has continued to grow in popularity, more and more enthusiasts have joined together to form online communities. These groups provide support, help, advice, and a fun place to go and chat about paintball. It’s just fun to make friends who share common interests with you. Check out these buzzing forums and densely populated online communities of paintball lovers.
Paint Ball Forum — Visit this forum with more than 40,000 members from all over the world for all kinds of tips, advice, stories, and more. Find a thread to help answer your questions, or join (for free) and start a topic of your own.
M. Carter Brown Forums — M.Carter Brown is a friendly site with thousands of users ready to engage with other paintballers. Log in and ask for feedback on your equipment or techniques, or just enjoy a chat with people who share in your love of the game.
PB Nation Forums — This popular forum is loaded with paintballers – experts, beginners, and everyone in between. You’ll find conversations about any paintball-related topic you can think of, and then some.
Tech PB Forums — Here’s another helpful community made up of enthusiastic paintball players. There are active threads about everything from highly specialized gear to newbie questions. There’s even a place where you can buy, sell, and trade equipment with other members.
Don’t forget about these great resources. The following sites and blogs are some of the best you’ll find. Stay connected to fellow players, keep up with the latest advancements in equipment, and learn new strategies and techniques. All of these sites are free to use and are kept fresh with great new information.
Paintball.com — This site’s slogan is “everything paintball” and that’s exactly what you’ll find there. Scroll throughout the collection of posts for how-to articles, new player tips, photo galleries, and lots more.
Social Paintball — The guys from Social Paintball are all over the place. They are out documenting paintball competitions and events all around the world, testing equipment, and making insightful observations about the value of paintball as a sport – and they are constantly posting it all on their well-kept site.
Ultimate Paintball Blog — The name is not misleading, as this blog is always being updated with all kinds of articles, reviews, videos, and more. A good one to bookmark.
Paintball Warrior Tactics — If you are serious about paintball and you really want to win, you’ve got to look at this blog kept by the author of the book by the same name. It’s full of videos and articles dedicated to giving you every tactical advantage possible.