Are you struggling in challenging days where all of your shots miss or craving for a single shot to hit a target with your paintball gun? — relax, you are no exception; count me in!
The adrenaline-fueled world of paintball has always captivated me. The adventure of hiding behind obstacles, making a strategic plan, and shooting the enemy with paint-filled balls has always been a thrill for me.
But when I first decided to join a paintball team, I had no idea how to hold, aim, anticipate, or fire it properly — I anticipated it like other casual toy guns. My first few months were dull, with missed shots, feeling low, and lots of embarrassment.
However, with the helping hand of some experienced school seniors, I learned the techniques of the battle, and my skills significantly improved. I developed and brushed up my ability to hold, aim, and shoot the paintball pistol with each practice session. In this article, I’ll take you through the steps I took to go from a newbie to an expert so that you may do the same.
How To Hold A Paintball Gun Correctly?
I was lucky enough that during the learning stage, my friends- neither Jeremy nor Kieren bullied me for multiple failed attempts. I was a slow but steady learner. Here are a few tips to hold your paintball gun for the best results-
Holding the paintball gun with both hands helps to keep the gun stable and shortens the recoil. Hold the marker confidently but not too tightly, as this can cause hand fatigue, and you can’t play for the long run. For a balanced grip, ensure your hands are evenly spread along the gun’s body. Your right hand should be on the gun’s trigger guard, with your trigger finger gently resting on the trigger.
Your left hand should be placed higher up the gun’s body, wrapping around it for more support. Always stand firmly and put the gun against your shoulder, with the butt resting against your shoulder blade. It will absorb some of the recoils when firing. I share my plan as per my comfort level. However, youngsters with a southpaw stance can use the opposite hands.
To get real-match scenarios, practice moving the gun in fast, unpredictable, or 360° motions. If you’re having trouble moving the gun swiftly, it’s most likely due to a bad grip. Adjust your hand placement and stand with your chest puffed out to bring the rifle closer to your eyes and chest for improved control.
Do Paintball Guns Shoot Straight?
You are playing with an 80 feet range paintball, not 3,000 feet range of bullets!
Paintball guns are not impersonating real firearm bullets. So lightweight and round shapes get a huge fraction from the air, and it lowers the momentum. Paintball guns do not hit completely straight way because the pellets have a little arc or fluctuate in their flight path due to their round form and lower velocity below 300 FPS.
Wind, temperature, velocity, and gravity are all elements that bypass or restrict movement. Furthermore, depending on the gun’s type and grade, the paintball markers’ speed and accuracy might vary.
It is critical to practice shooting and understand the trajectory of the paintballs in order to acquire the highest accuracy with a paintball pistol. You can also correct for drift by adjusting your aim and technique, such as aiming slightly higher or lower depending on the distance to your target.
The Correct Ways Of Aiming With A Paintball Gun
Anticipation and accuracy are game-changers for paintball shooting. The process you aim the rifle has a significant impact on your performance. Standing between 5 to 20 meters from your target is best for the most accurate results.
Being too close or far from the target reduces your probability of hitting it. It is essential to keep the gun’s air tank on your shoulder while shooting as it provides stability and good balance. Your aim will be less precise without it.
Expert Tip
Before practice, note that paintballs are not real cone-shaped or parabolic-shaped hard bullets, so you can’t expect the lightweight round balls to perform with the same accurate momentum. So, these toy guns have different results due to air movement or friction. Real bullets are aerodynamically shaped and move swiftly and accelerate, which paintball pellets can not match.
Remember that the balls’ round shape makes them travel along a curving way than a straight hit, depending on the distance. As a result, it’s clumsy to understand how paintballs react in projectiles and become acquainted with their trajectory. Practice is the only solution.
If you want to aim accurately, it’s best to focus on the sights of your paintball gun. When playing with a gun without a scope or red dot, you can use the iron sights on any side of the front of the gun to help you aim.
How Can You Shoot A Paintball Gun Accurately?
Try to line the gun off the nose. To improve your firing skill and accuracy, maintain your upper body rigid but not locked and firm. This will keep any movement in your lower body from interfering with your aim. Without jerking, pull the trigger smoothly and consistently. Before pulling the trigger, please take a deep breath, hold it for a second, and release gently.
As a team sport, paintball needs you to engage your upper and lower body. Hold the gun securely, grab it with both hands, and put your dominant hand closer to your chest. Move the weapon swiftly in different directions to test your flexibility and body language. If you’re having trouble moving the gun quickly, modify your grip and hold the weapon as per the user’s manual.
Use both eyes fixed on the target; Your eyes should always be on the subject, not your paintball marker. Bring the gun closer to your chest and shoulders, providing a clear view. To grab the trajectory of your shots, continue your efforts until you fully get confidence.
During an exciting game of paintball, it’s good to remember that excessive movements should be avoided when shooting, as it will lower the shooting efficiency. The range at which a paintball gun operates efficiently is primarily instigated by the type of paint being used and the attire worn by the enemy.
How To Improve Your Paintball Gun Accuracy?
To be successful in paintball, you must focus on your targets. Even experienced players might make mistakes if they are not paying attention.
As a newbie, it’s normal to be concerned about missing the target and concentrating on your own shots. However, if you can forget the past (missing) targets and focus on the game and your opponents, you will have more chances to make accurate strokes and acquire confidence.
So, before picking which target to aim for, take your time by observing your targets and their motions. But don’t wait too long to take a shot, or you’ll miss your chance.
There are numerous barrels to choose from, and I have used many of them! A longer barrel will push your accuracy simply because it will be easier to aim. However, overly long barrels will have certain drawbacks as well.
Expert Tip
According to the findings by Donald Novak and Rey Ruiz in California State Science Fair Project, a barrel length of 12 to 14 inches is excellent for enhanced accuracy and minimizing negative impacts. Using some lower-end marking stock barrels or even damaged barrels cannot match with modern mid to high-quality barrels and barrel kits.
High quality paintballs are essential for increasing accuracy. Your precision will drop if the paintballs are old. If my shots don’t shoot straight, I’ll have a dull day and will have to apply more paint than usual to fill the gap.
What Should You Never Do In Paintball?
Forget Hollywood action or Instagram reels – so don’t try stunts or other activities; they can hit you back. Avoid these practices —
Don’t take off your musk or goggles’ to avoid severe injury and protect your eyes (Before leaving the playing area, all players should put on their Barrel Sleeves).
Don’t shoot at close range, shorter than 10 meters.
Refrain from using external equipment or cheating (e.g., Not declaring yourself out!).
Don’t forget to keep hydrated on a regular basis.
There will be no blank or blind firing.
Don’t shoot paintballs outside of the designated shooting zones.
No shooting is allowed at people who are not wearing protective gear; it can be a criminal offense!
Check all rules and regulations of paintball fields to know more about the dos and don’ts.
The Takeaway
Practice makes a paintballer perfect! So, always wear proper safety gear and practice consistently with the best paintball gun to improve your skills. With these tips and tricks, I’m sure anyone can develop the ability to hold, aim, and shoot paint pellets easily and confidently.
Don’t leave or give up! Continue to play and focus on practice, and your accuracy will improve as you play more frequently; it will brush up your skills.
