Whether you play woodsball or speedball, you will be running, jumping, crouching, crawling, rolling around and making quick movements. Paintball is definitely a sport which requires a great deal of physical activity. Some play paintball specifically for its exercise benefits. No matter your reason for playing, your game will be much more fun as you become a more athletic, higher skilled player. To do this, practice regularly to improve your abilities and skills; regular practice will also build "muscle memory" for the things you will do during a paintball game. This includes a great deal of physical AND mental conditioning.
If you're going to hone your paintball skills, you will have to address two main parts: 1.) becoming better at specific skills used in paintball (shooting, aiming, hiding in cover, shooting on the move, etc.). And 2.) improving the physical attributes required to be successful in paintball; speed, agility, stamina and muscle tone. The focus of this article however, will be about how to sharpen your specific skills used while playing paintball.
DISCLAIMER: Since this article offers advice for a physical training program, please be aware that the ideas presented are designed to help players get started in the appropriate types of training and then customize them to suit their individual needs. Please do not attempt any exercises or drills in this article if you are physically incapable of doing them or under a doctor's restriction. If you are unsure of your abilities or have a physical handicap that may be of concern, please consult your doctor before attempting the exercises and drills listed.
Most paintballers feel they will reach their maximum potential simply by playing lots of paintball. This is somewhat correct. However, as the old saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." If you are practicing something that is subpar or just flat out wrong, you will regularly perform at a subpar level. If you really want to do well on the paintball field, it requires intense and purposeful practice and training. Develop a regular schedule of practice and follow it! Practicing your skills should be the primary emphasis of your program. Next, focus on some specific movements and actions you perform most often during a match and train to improve them.
Most training programs are broken up into two categories - skills training and conditioning. Let's start with skills training. Set regular times of practice for paintball. Practice at least twice per week, but try for at least three times per week. For our examples, we'll use the example of someone who trains on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The majority of your practice time should consist of playing the paintball game with the focus on improving your skills rather than simply accomplishing the mission. Take the first 30 minutes of each session to practice specific skills.
The goal of your skills training is twofold:
1. to improve your shooting accuracy
2. to improve your ability to move with your gun and equipment.
To improve your shooting accuracy, practice stationary aiming and "dry fire" your paintball marker, then practice shooting on the move. Start with your gun at waist level, then do the same drills from a different shooting stance or position. Also practice shooting your paintball gun from behind cover. Practice shooting stationary and moving targets; also practice shooting multiple targets in a very short period of time. Don't forget to practice target shooting while aiming from the waist or a crawling position.
If you are on a paintball team, make sure you also practice team skills, in addition to your individual practice. Practice different strategies you will use during a match. Especially practice moving and communicating as a team. If you're on a woodsball team, practice different formations of movement, cover fire and ambush situations. Have team members switch positions so that everyone is able to play anyone else's position, if needed. While your equipment will not be perfectly suited for EVERY position on the field, you should know the basics of every position and be able to play that part, if the scenario requires.
If you're going to hone your paintball skills, you will have to address two main parts: 1.) becoming better at specific skills used in paintball (shooting, aiming, hiding in cover, shooting on the move, etc.). And 2.) improving the physical attributes required to be successful in paintball; speed, agility, stamina and muscle tone. The focus of this article however, will be about how to sharpen your specific skills used while playing paintball.
DISCLAIMER: Since this article offers advice for a physical training program, please be aware that the ideas presented are designed to help players get started in the appropriate types of training and then customize them to suit their individual needs. Please do not attempt any exercises or drills in this article if you are physically incapable of doing them or under a doctor's restriction. If you are unsure of your abilities or have a physical handicap that may be of concern, please consult your doctor before attempting the exercises and drills listed.
Most paintballers feel they will reach their maximum potential simply by playing lots of paintball. This is somewhat correct. However, as the old saying goes, "garbage in, garbage out." If you are practicing something that is subpar or just flat out wrong, you will regularly perform at a subpar level. If you really want to do well on the paintball field, it requires intense and purposeful practice and training. Develop a regular schedule of practice and follow it! Practicing your skills should be the primary emphasis of your program. Next, focus on some specific movements and actions you perform most often during a match and train to improve them.
Most training programs are broken up into two categories - skills training and conditioning. Let's start with skills training. Set regular times of practice for paintball. Practice at least twice per week, but try for at least three times per week. For our examples, we'll use the example of someone who trains on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The majority of your practice time should consist of playing the paintball game with the focus on improving your skills rather than simply accomplishing the mission. Take the first 30 minutes of each session to practice specific skills.
The goal of your skills training is twofold:
1. to improve your shooting accuracy
2. to improve your ability to move with your gun and equipment.
To improve your shooting accuracy, practice stationary aiming and "dry fire" your paintball marker, then practice shooting on the move. Start with your gun at waist level, then do the same drills from a different shooting stance or position. Also practice shooting your paintball gun from behind cover. Practice shooting stationary and moving targets; also practice shooting multiple targets in a very short period of time. Don't forget to practice target shooting while aiming from the waist or a crawling position.
If you are on a paintball team, make sure you also practice team skills, in addition to your individual practice. Practice different strategies you will use during a match. Especially practice moving and communicating as a team. If you're on a woodsball team, practice different formations of movement, cover fire and ambush situations. Have team members switch positions so that everyone is able to play anyone else's position, if needed. While your equipment will not be perfectly suited for EVERY position on the field, you should know the basics of every position and be able to play that part, if the scenario requires.