Mikes Paintball

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is paintball?
Paintball is a game, much like tag.  People are divided into two teams, sent to opposite sides of the paintball field, and sent out to basically hunt one another.  Players use marker to shoot balls of paint (Water soluble, non-toxic, and biodegradable) to mark one another.  The game has been played, through various forms, for almost thirty years now, with an excellent safety record.

Does it hurt?

Yes, and no.  When you play, you do have to realize that you are shooting an almost 3/4" diameter ball at a person.  We regulate the markers velocity to about 280 feet per second, almost a football field in length, in one second.  From a distance, it won't hurt.  But the closer that you get, the harder the paintball is going to hit.

What should I wear?
Layers.  We recommend that everyone wear a couple of layers of baggy clothing to help in those instances of a close up hit.  Like a t-shirt and a baggy sweatshirt up top, and two pair of baggy sweats below the waist.  Some people choose to wear armor, like motorcycle armor, or football shoulder pads.  We won't dissuade you from wearing this, but often times, players end up taking it of, as it can be a bit restricting, and heavy.  Women should plan on wearing a sports type of bra, and some men find that wearing a cup helps.  Often, we recommend that you bring a hat or bandanna to wear, as additional protection, and to help keep dirt out of your hair.  Many people also like to wear gloves to cover their hands.

How old do you have to be to play paintball?
As we are no longer open, please consult the individual fields that we recommend for minimum age.

What is a marker?
A marker is the proper term for what many people call a paintball gun.  When you score a hit on another person, you have marked them.  We don't shoot one another, only mark one another.

Paintballs?  As in, are they really filled with paint?
They are called paintballs, but in reality, they are not filled with paint.  The fill, the liquid insides, is typically vegetable oil and food coloring.  The shell, outside, is generally gelatin.  There is a bit more to them than that, but they are not a permanent mark.  All paintballs are water soluble, non-toxic, and biodegradable.  They wash out of your clothes easily enough, are safe for the environment, and won't make you sick or anything of the like if you happen to ingest any of them.

What about safety?
Paintball is one of the safest sports out there.  It is a sport, an extreme sport, and has a better safety record than golf.  Yes, safer than golf.  The mask that players wear is strictly tested to withstand impacts without doing anything other than cracking, at a velocity of over 325 feet per second (FPS), well over the velocity that we allow at the field.  The markers have barrel blocking devices, known as barrel bags, that, when installed, will keep a paintball from flying out the end of the barrel, in case of an accidental discharge.  We use top of the line radar chronographs to check velocity to insure that anyone bringing their own equipment is shooting at the proper speed for the field.

What should I expect when I show up?
This will vary with each field.  Please consult their websites, and feel free to contact them for more details.

What should I expect from the games?
This will vary with each field.  Please consult their websites, and feel free to contact them for more details.

How much should I expect to pay?
This will vary with each field.  Please consult their websites, and feel free to contact them for more details.

So I have my own equipment, what do I need to know?
This will vary with each field.  Please consult their websites, and feel free to contact them for more details.

What kinds of fields do you have?
This will vary with each field.  Please consult their websites, and feel free to contact them for more details.

Thank you for your support.