Paintball is a game where you shoot at other players with balls of paint expelled from a special air gun called a “paintgun”. The game originated in the US and has since become a popular world-wide sport. Players compete in a variety of different game types and events. There are also many competitive leagues that play at the local, regional and national levels.

There are some basic rules that must be followed by all players. The main rule is to avoid hitting other players. This may seem obvious, but it is the source of most paintball accidents and injuries. All players must wear protective eyewear (typically goggles and mask systems made especially for paintball) at all times while playing. In addition, all players must remain in the designated safe zone when not on the playing field.

During the game, players attempt to capture their opponent’s flag or eliminate them by tagging them with a paintball shot from a marker. In most games, the first player to reach their objective wins. Players can play individually, in teams or in tournaments.

A game of paintball lasts anywhere from minutes to hours. Most games, however, last about 20 to 45 minutes. During this time, players take breaks to check their equipment and get more paintballs. Between games, players often share stories of their victories and defeats.

The first game of paintball was held on June 7th, 1981 in the woods of New Hampshire. Three friends, Bob Gurnsey, Hayes Noel and Charles Gaines, were inspired by Nelson’s marker and decided to settle an argument over who was better at survival by playing a game of paintball. Each participant brought a Nel-Spot pistol, some extra tubes of paint and shop goggles.

Different paintball guns have different firing systems, but the general idea is that a painted ball drops out of the hopper and into the barrel of the gun. Then, a small burst of compressed gas is released from a chamber behind the paintball and pushes it forward with much greater force than the air on the other side of the ball.

A hit is recorded when a paintball leaves a solid mark, typically nickel or quarter-sized, on a player’s clothing or equipment. Some variations of the game don’t count hits to the equipment, while others, such as those played at professional fields and in tournaments, require multiple hits on a player’s legs or arms.

Before a game of paintball begins, players must attend a safety briefing from one of our marshals. They will explain the rules of the game and what to expect on the field. During the briefing, players should ask our marshals any questions that they may have and listen carefully. It is important that players listen to the marshals during this time because it will help them to avoid any accidents or injuries.