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Here are a few frequently asked questions that we get from players who are new to the sport and concerned parents.

What is paintball?
Paintball is a relatively new game growing in popularity at an astounding rate all over the world. Paintball players utilize a paintball marker/gun to mark their opponents with a soft gelatin capsule filled with water-soluble coloured dye. The most common type of paintball game is very similar to the classic childhood game of capture the flag. Players are divided fairly into two teams and then placed at opposite ends of a playing area with ‘bunkers’ and other obstacles to hide behind. When the game begins, players try to capture the opposing teams flag and return it to their ‘flag base’ without being marked by a paintball. There are several other games players can play at the Rapidfire Paintball field such as: ‘Attack and defend’, ‘Elimination’, ‘Civil War’, ‘Terminator’, ‘Every man for themselves’ and ‘Rabbit’!

Is it safe?
YES! Paintball is in fact one of the SAFEST sports in the world when played with regulation safety equipment. Actually, according to a national wide survey of sports injuries, paintball is safer than bowling! We provide all renters with high quality paintball specific eye/face/and ear protection. When on the field, all players are required to wear their goggle systems on their heads correctly at ALL TIMES. We maintain a no tolerance rule with people who choose to break this or any other rule. Any one who endangers him/herself or anyone else will be removed from the field immediately! When in a “safe area” all paintball guns must have a barrel plug/bag on to ensure no one is accidentally hurt with their mask off. We like to preserve a 100% safe and fun environment for everybody at our facilities.

Does it hurt?
This is one of the most common questions we get from new players of all ages! And the answer to this is no, a paintball generally causes very little pain on impact. We suggest wearing baggy clothes to lessen any pain that might occur from a hit. When a paintball makes contact with you, it will usually leave a stinging pain that will go away in a few seconds. Being hit by a paintball is nothing to be worried about!

What do I need to bring?
We suggest you bring a long sleeved shirt and pants. Darker colours will help you blend in more with the area. We also highly suggest you bring sturdy footwear with good ankle support. It is very easy to hurt your ankles while running around in poor footwear. We also suggest you bring an extra pair of clothes to change into after the day is done (paintballs can be messy). Also, it is good to bring extra cash for extra paintballs and drinks. And for the guys, you may want to wear a cup for added protection.

Will the paintballs stain my clothes?
No, the dye from the paintballs is water-soluble and should wash right out of any clothes. We still suggest wearing old clothing in case you tear something.

Where can I find out more about paintball?
With the growth of paintball in popularity, it is getting easier and easier to find information on this fun and exciting sport. One great way to find additional information is in paintball magazines such as Action Pursuit Games and P8ntballer magazines available at Chapters and other large bookstores. Another great resource for paintball is the Internet. www.warpig.com and www.pbreview.com are excellent websites for information on the sport. You can also access the Internet newsgroups rec.sport.paintball and alt.sport.paintball for lots of info.

Term Definition
12g 12 gram CO2 "powerlets" used for many years in pellet rifles. Powered the early paintball guns.
Anti-Siphon A special bulk CO2 tank designed to prevent the gun from sucking liquid.
Barrel Plug A plug that goes in the business end of the marker's muzzle. It prevents projectiles from accidentally leaving the gun.
Bottom Line Usually refers to the local of the CO2 tank on the bottom rear portion of the marker's pistol grip.
Bunker (noun) An object or embankment on the field that a player uses for cover.
Bunker (verb) To charge a bunker and eliminate, a close range, any players hiding behind it.
Chronograph A device used to measure the velocity (speed) of a paintball coming out of a barrel. The safe maximum speed of a paintball is 300 feet per second.
CO2 Carbon Dioxide--compressed gas used to power markers.
Hopper A larger container that holds paintball pellets, feeding them into the gun through its bottom.
FPS Feet per second. The measurement of speed at which the paintball travels. 300 fps is the maximum velocity a paintball may travel safely.
Harness or Fanny Pack Belt/harness system for carrying loaders of paint so that a player may reload their feeder/hopper on the field during play.
HPA or Compressed Air High-pressure compressed air (3000 to 4500 psi) is usually used instead of CO2 in tournament paintball. The use of HPA requires specialized high pressure tanks and regulators which lower the output pressure to what the paint guns operate at.
Newbie Someone who is new to the sport.
PSI PSI stands for Pounds Per Square Inch and is a measurement of pressure.
Remote Hoses and fittings that allow the bulk CO2 tank to be detached from the manufacture's intended location on the gun, then located elsewhere (e.g. on the player's hip).
Speedball Speedball is a game played on small fields with little natural cover. Bunkers usually consist of wooden pallets, tires or other man-made barricades. Speedball fields are designed to allow spectators to see the action. The first speedball field was set up at SC Village in Corona, CA.
Squeegee A device used to clean paint from the barrel of a marker



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