Last Saturday, I went paintballing for the first time.
I didn’t really know what to expect, aside from the fact that getting pelted by paintballs would really, really hurt. That’s what everyone’s reaction was when I told them of my Saturday afternoon plans. “Paintballing? Yeah, it’s fun, but man, that hurts!”
Not that I doubted that statement, but I can now confirm that yes, paintballing does hurt. However, it is also lots of fun and I had the most excellent time.
It was eye-opening to see how into paintballing some people are. There seems to be a whole paintballing culture that I was unaware of. My friends and I, for the most part, were either first-timers or had done it before but not anytime recently. At the location we went to, there were dads and uncles there with sons and nephews in tow of all ages. These men took their paintballing seriously! Even amongst my teammates, I felt rather intimidated, although most of them were quite friendly.
The best part was when I hid in a small hut for the majority of one of the rounds. I had an excellent vantage point and was (relatively) safely ensconced from enemy fire. However, someone snuck up on me and pointed his paintball gun in my face. My instinct, of course, was to scream and so I did as I held my hand up to declare myself as out and walked off the field. Later, I discovered that he wasn’t sure if I was a guy or a girl (I guess he didn’t notice my rainbow polka dotted rainboots) which is why he held off shooting directly at me, but when he heard my high-pitched scream he knew he wouldn’t be able to shoot me.
I’ve only got two bruises and a sore quad to show off as my paintball war wounds, which is far less than I expected as I bruise rather easily. I could say that’s because I’m excellent at paintball, but it’s really because I was just really good at hiding.
I have never tried paintballing, but I have done its safer alternative – laser tagging! I’ve also heard of something called “airsoft” which is basically like paintballing but instead of paintball pellets, you have air. I really like shooting games whether it be in the arcade or in laser tag. Unfortunately, I’m not much of a precise shooter, but I’ll get there! My sister has gone paintballing many times and she would come home with dozens of bruises on her arms and legs the size of the large paintball pellets.
Kudos to you for coming home with the less bruises than expected, you did well!
A buddy of mine ran a little paintball company when we were in highschool. We played a lot. Though our games quickly devolved into Lord of the Flies.
Paintballing is definitely on my bucket list! It definitely sounds fun.
I wouldn’t dare go paintballing especially if it’ll hurt. I’m scared of being hurt and I hurt easily too. But I’ve heard it’s tons of fun! I guess…I’ll just be missing out.
I love love love love paintball (admittedly, only been once). I love the physicality, the challenge, the urge to WIN and to CRUSH the other team. I may be a little competitive. It does hurt, but that’s part of the fun really. Consider it training for the inevitable breakdown of society, when everyone has to fight to defend their own territory. Laser tag is fun too, like Kristine said.
“Consider it training for the inevitable breakdown of society, when everyone has to fight to defend their own territory.”
You secretly wishing for a Battle Royale/Hunger Games-esque scenario to come true?
Can’t be too careful!
I went paintballing a couple of years ago! Got hit in the knee once, it hurt like a bitch. But I had a blast. There were a lot of hardcore paintballers there, and you could totally tell who they were because they actually had equipment and all these different accessories/attachments for their guns and there we were, with our mud-covered guns and cheap gear. Whatever, it was still fun.
I’m such a wuss when it comes to pain, that I’ve been afraid to try paintballing, haha. My friends and I played laser tag instead. The huge paintball bruises I see on people look scary sometimes, so that’s good that you didn’t get many. I’m glad you had a good time!
Ah, I haven’t went paint balling in so long but I remembered it being painful and extremely fun. I think the best way to describe being hit by a paintball is like getting slapped by a rubber band. It stings.
I laughed a little reading about when you screamed. I have only been paintballing once and I was mortified that time, and so were my parents, because they thought I’d end up pretty badly hurt. Of course, they didn’t quite understand exactly what paintballing was or how it worked. I had only seen it in the movie 10 Things I Hate About You when they’d thrown them by hand; little did I know that there were guns, and ammo, that you had to pay for… it’s pretty expensive here.
I didn’t really get any bruises, but my friend got shot in the back multiple times by some other guy. The guy didn’t follow the rules and just kept shooting even after my friend was walking off. One of the supervisors had to yell at him to stop. Other than that we had a pretty good time. I got shot in the face and paint went all over my visor and in my mouth, and the guy said it was all good because it was vegetable based.
Anyway, I have to say that it was a good experience for me as well; it’s pretty fun but gets really hectic and even though you’re wearing protective gear you still land a couple of superficial injuries. I am glad you had a good time! I have to suggest running out of the hut at some point because part of the fun is feeling that thrill of being chased and shit. It’s funny when you’re in the hut and someone can’t see you there… I was hiding in a hut and I saw my friend hiding behind a rock, but that was directly in front of my hut and his back was to me. It was hilarious when I popped up to the window to shoot him then ducked back down. Ah, good times. :’)
I’ve never been paintballing. I’d love to try it though. Like Kristine, it reminds me of laser tag, which I’ve done many many times and thoroughly enjoyed.
Glad to hear you survived with only two bruises.
I’ve never done it… And I’d be SO scared. People shooting at me! And I’m a bad shot… And a big target. Plus I’m slow.
Props to you though for doing it!
This is great. It makes me want to try playing paintball, although I’d be somewhat scared of getting hurt, but it sounds like you had a lot of fun. I think I’d end up like you, during one round, just having a secret hideout with great potential of getting a lot of people.
I’ve never been paint balling, but if it’s anything like laser tag I’m sure I’d be terrible at it. (I came last.) Coordination: not my strong point. Two bruises? Impressive dodging/hiding abilities there.