BEFORE YOU GET ON THE FIELD
1.Check your goggles and make sure the strap is secure on the frames and
check to ensure the lenses are properly in place. Make sure they're clean.
2.Make sure you have your squeegee.
3.Check to see if your tubes or bulk loaders are topped up.
AFTER YOU GET TO THE FLAGSTATION/STARTING POINT
1.Remember to take your barrel plug out.
2.Make sure your paintmarker is loaded, the CO2 is on and it's cocked
and ready to fire.
COVER AND CONCEALMENT, THE SAME THINGS?
No, they are not the same thing. Think of it this way.
- Cover: it will stop a paintball, but will not hide you. A pane
of lexan (goggle lense material), for instance.
- Concealment: it will allow you to hide, but may not stop a paintball.
A wall of paper is a good example.
Most times, you'll get both. Don't rely on it, one hundred percent of
the time. Just remember, the bush may hide you, but it might not stop
a paintball.
Also with cover, when you are using vertical cover, like a tree trunk,
you should stand at least an arms length away. This way the tree will
cover you better from your opponent's point of view, and it does not obscure
your vision as much.
MOVEMENT
THE BEST WAY TO MOVE (WHEN YOU'RE NOT BEING SHOT AT)
Unless the other team knows where you are (indicated by the fact that
they're shooting at you) take your time. The faster you move, the more
noise you're going to make. If you have the time, take it. You can have
speed, or silence, but not both. You'll know when to use one or the other.
If you are moving on someone try to keep obstacles between your eyes and
his, even a slender tree may hide you from their vision.
Also, while you are moving, you should keep your paintmarker "at
the ready" position.
When in a game, but not in the action, you must have your paintmarker
ready at all times, but still carry it in a comfortable position.
For a rifle, or any paintmarker with a stock, the butt is clamped against
your side (in the space between your rib cage and your waist) by your
right arm (on the opposite side if you shoot left handed). The barrel
is pointed up and held so the muzzle (end of the barrel) is slightly below
eye level, with your left hand on the pump or forestock. The muzzle should
follow your eyes as you scan the terrain. When held this way, your paintmarker
is always pointed in front of you should you acquire a target.
When holding the paintmarker in this fashion you can do one of two things:
a very quick hip shot or a quick and aimed shot from the shoulder.
For a hip shot, bring the muzzle down. The index finger of the hand on
the pump/fore end should be pointing down the barrel. Your eye and index
finger align almost perfectly to where you are pointing. With your index
finger pointing along the line of the barrel, it will help you "aim"
that much better.
For shooting from the shoulder, when the target is at a greater range
and there is more time to aim (relatively speaking) the paintmarker should
be brought to the shoulder. This is done very simply, although the explanation
seems complicated, the actual doing is better than the telling. The paintmarker
is pushed out, keeping the muzzle on the target. The stock is swung up
to meet the shoulder and once it is in line with the shoulder, is brought
in and held snugly (not tightly). The head is brought down to use the
sights. Seeing how you kept the muzzle of the paintmarker more or less
on the target, you should only need a minuscule adjustment to properly
sight in on your intended target.
If you are toting a pistol, the principle is the same, but the technique
differs slightly. For pistoleros, the pistol is held in your normal shooting
hand either in a two handed grip on the pistol or with the non-shooting
hand on the pump/fore end. The muzzle is still held at eye level and tracks
with your eyes when you scan. A very important thing to remember is to
keep your elbows down at your sides. If you don't the muscles will be
supporting the weight of your arms and the pistol and will tire quickly.
When you acquire a target the pistol is pushed out towards it, keeping
the muzzle on the target.
With practice these methods are very easy to master. Most master the basic
concept with the first time they try it. Incidentally, these methods were
developed from shooting skeet and trap with a shotgun.
THE BEST WAY TO MOVE (WHEN YOU ARE BEING SHOT AT)
The idea is to move as fast as possible, in short bursts, to prevent your
opponent from drawing a bead on you. As a rule of thumb, it takes about
three seconds for a person to recognize, acquire, sight in and shoot at
a target that pops up unexpectantly. You don't want to give them three
seconds. You also don't want to "telegraph" your movement. When
you're ready to go, then GO! Don't try a "head fake", or any
fancy stuff like that. You're robbing yourself of your three second advantage.
BASIC TEAM TACTICS
Okay, these are really simple. I mean, my dog understands them. They are
effective BECAUSE they are simplistic.
BASIC OFFENSIVE TACTICS
1.First, you should designate a small group of players to act as a flanking
party. These players will automatically break off and flank the opposition
when you encounter them. If you designate specific players to do this
before the game, you don't have worry about confusion on who is going
to go during the game. I remember being up front and saying "A couple
of you flank around." When I turned around, they were ALL gone flanking!
The Flanking Party should stay to the back, so they don't get hit during
initial contact.
2.It's also wise to stay in one group. If you break up into smaller groups,
the opposition will eliminate them quickly, if they were smart enough
to stay in a group.
3.The best way to win is to avoid the opposition altogether. It's fun
to shoot your friends, but if you want to win, you'll want as many people
as you can get into the flag station.
4.When you get to the flag station, send your flanking party around to
the other side to divert attention. Once the defenders start moving and
advancing on the flankers, you rush in and shoot a few butts. This only
works if the defenders don't see the main body.
BASIC DEFENSIVE TACTICS
Defenders are only there to slow down the opposition. By definition, they
are DEFENDING, not stopping. The longer you can slow down the opposition,
the better it will be for your attackers.
You should only have a few defenders, and those who will not break and
run at the first sign of trouble. Incidentally, the most tenacious defenders
I've ever gone up against have been women. I don't know why, but they're
more determined than their male team mates. (That doesn't mean you should
leave the ladies on defence all day, guys.)
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPOSITION'S FLAG
Everyone makes the same mistake. You grab the flag and you take off, leaving
the opponent's flag station empty. What happens if they have YOUR flag
and they're halfway back? They're going to hang the flag while you're
still huffin' and puffin' down the trail. Leave a few players back to
give the opposition a little surprise, and give you a little more time
to get to your flag station.
When you get to your flag station, make sure it's clear; the bad guys
may have read this too.
Don't let the guy who grabs the flag run off half-cocked. Make sure there
are a few players in front of him and a few players behind. Most times
the opposition doesn't realize you have their flag until you pass them.
Now they're behind you, which is why you have a few players taking up
the rear.
No matter what:
NEVER LEAVE THE OPPOSITION'S FLAG STATION UNATTENDED!
WHAT TO DO IF THE OPPOSITION HAS YOUR FLAG
Where are they going to go with your flag? That's right, THEIR flag station.
Don't try to second guess which route they're going to take back. Beat
feet to their flag station and wait for them there. They usually come
running in, thinking (and acting) like they already won. Then, you let
them have it!
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