Public Servant Lifestyle

Is paintball the most exciting non-contact adrenalin sport in the world?

Looking for a fast-paced adrenalin-fuelled new hobby? Paintballing could be just what you're looking for.

In just 15 short years paintball has come a long way, from a minority interest activity to a hugely popular national pastime, with millions playing every year. The game has well and truly passed into the culture, has been featured on television shows – most famously Channel 4’s Spaced - as part of countless stag weekends and has a growing reputation as one of the worlds most exciting participation sports.

What Are Paintballs?

Paintballs themselves are marble sized, round, thin-skinned gelatine capsules with coloured liquid inside. They are very similar in appearance to vitamin capsules or bath oil beads. The content of these balls is non-toxic, non-caustic, water soluble and biodegradable. In simple terms this means they won’t ruin your clothes, or the environment. When you are hit by paintball during play the gelatine skin splits open and the contents leave a bright 'paint' mark. The 'paint' is usually brightly coloured – making it easier to tell who has been hit – varying from a bright pink to a lurid Day-Glo yellow.

How Is the Game Played?

The objects of paintball games vary from site to site, with some operating a simple game of elimination – often accompanying a goal of reaching the other side of the playing area unmarked!

Men and women compete on even terms using hi tech semi-automatic 'markers', the paintball guns themselves. Many modern markers utilise electronics, which enable players to shoot very quickly - over 12 balls a second! All tend to be of similar design, incorporating a hopper of ammunition, which tends to be above the marker, allowing gravity to feed balls into the breech.

Capture The Flag

Every game is closely timed; some are outdoors; in woodland, mock-ups of villages or even contained within buildings designed to look like different settings. More usually each team has its own flag, which is kept in its home base. The object of the game is to capture the other team’s flag and return it to the home base within a 10-minute game time. Eliminating other players will guarantee you some points, but not as many as grabbing the flag, the primary objective. When a player receives a hit anywhere on his body, head or equipment he is eliminated. If a player is hit by a paintball that does not break, or hit by paint from another impact – such as an obstacle - the player stays in the game.

How About Safety?

For safety, players and marshals always wear goggles, which are specifically designed for paintball to protect eyes and ears while giving good all round vision. All markers are limited in power and range. To protect clothing coveralls are worn.

Does it Hurt?

Well the honest answer is yes – a little – you tend to know when you’ve been hit, if not from the paint splattered over you, then from the sharp strike itself. The paintball is travelling at 300 feet per second, which may sound terrifying to the uninitiated, but with the ball being so soft it isn't a problem. You can expect the odd colourful bruise, but really nothing you wouldn't get from your average game of football.

Where Can I Play?

Well if you're in the United States there are vast organised leagues and games - which can run to involve hundreds of players at a time. But in the UK most games - mostly carried out in purpose built (or at least set-up) 'arenas' - are more modest. The largest park in the UK is Campaign, based near Cobham in Surrey, just 20 minutes drive out of London. Check out the listing for sites in other parts of the UK. So if you’re looking for something exciting and different, that’s non-contact, genuinely unisex and that is great to watch as well as play, paintball could be for you.

For more details either ring Jim Sennett on: 01932 865 999, or visit:www.campaignpaintball.com

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