Paintball Dead or Alive

Elimination is one of the most contentious issues in paintball and it’s important to remember that rules will vary between different sites. This article is based on the rules we use here at Go Ballistic and we can’t guarantee they’ll be the same at other venues. You should always check the local rules before you play anywhere else.

The first thing to point out is that paintball is a game of honesty and integrity. Although the marshals are there to pull players from a game when they are hit, it should also be remembered that players need to take some responsibility as well. If this is not the case then a game can be ruined and descend into farce.

At Go Ballistic we class a hit as anything bigger than around the size of a pound coin although spray from an exploding ball does not count which means the ball must actually hit the player rather than explode on a barricade and spray a player’s clothing.

Go Ballistic also have rules over where hits have to be on your body to count. Head shots and marker shots are not classed as hits so players should carry on playing if this is where they are struck. Players should also try not to shoot at point-blank range without giving an order to surrender first. If this is ignored then feel free to fire away!

Never be afraid to ask for a paint check either because it’s sometimes hard to see if you have been hit in certain parts of the body like your shoulders or on your chest. It’s amazing how many times you feel a hit and leave the game only to discover the paintball never exploded so did not leave a mark.

So why is it important to be honest about being hit? Well, without honesty the game just descends into a free-for-all which is not enjoyable for anyone. Games these days are fast and furious, rarely lasting more than 10 minutes, so it’s not like you’ll be kicking your heels in the dead box for ages, is it?

But if you need any convincing about honesty at calling yourself out then think about things the other way around. How annoying and frustrating is it when you shoot someone only for them to carry on playing? You might as well pack up and go home because the whole point of paintball has been missed if this is the case.

Paintball at the rec ball level should be about fun and although it’s always great to win, taking part is just as important. And do you really want to win by cheating? Thought not!
You’ll only improve as a player by making mistakes so don’t be scared of trying new stuff out. And never be afraid to end up in the dead box because even the best of us spend time in there at some point in time. Remember, paintball just isn’t paintball with people trying to stay in the game at all costs when they have been legitimately hit.

Finally, once you have been eliminated then raising your marker in the air will mean you’ll avoid more hits than necessary, while you should always wipe paint marks off before the start of the next game in order to avoid any confusion.