First time player..questions?
Printed From: Tippmann Paintball
Category: Tippmann Paintball
Forum Name: New Player Forum
Forum Description: New to the sport? Get Professional Advice Here!
URL: http://www.tippmannsports.com/forum/wwf77a/forum_posts.asp?TID=188911
Printed Date: 29 October 2025 at 1:37am
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Topic: First time player..questions?
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Subject: First time player..questions?
Date Posted: 12 August 2011 at 5:46pm
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Hi all, 43 year old athletic guy playing woodsball/paintball at a local field first time on Sunday. Since I have never played before and would like some feedback on what to expect. Guys that I work with play paintball and they tell me me I will like it a lot. I wanted to play once before I started playing with them. I did some research and it does seem like a good time. Do places have many guys that show up alone or will I feel like an odd man out? The place has walk on's allowed over the weekend. I have a camouflage outfit and Timberland's that I will play in. I do not have gloves or any other apparel. Anything else that you guys can recommend? I have field utilities that are semi heavy weight. Some of the guys recommend bug spray others don't, same with wearing a vest. One of my buddies had a nasty bruise from getting hit on the neck. It looked like a hickey. I do not have my own marker, however if I enjoy playing I plan on buying a Tippmann Project Salvo with an E trigger. I wear glasses, so I want to buy a mask with a fan or one that doesn't fog up. They play capture the flag type scenarios. I live in Ocean county NJ if anyone wants to get together or recommend places to play. I look forward to any feedback. |
Replies:
Posted By: SSOK
Date Posted: 12 August 2011 at 8:43pm
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Mike Gallo wrote:Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 12 August 2011 at 9:07pm
| Thanks a lot for the information. |
Posted By: oldpbnoob
Date Posted: 25 August 2011 at 11:55am
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Going with friends is typically a lot more fun than going alone, but either way you should have a good time. I didnt start playing until a few years ago and I am the same age as you. Regarding masks, you may want to go to an actual shop and try some on if you wear glasses. Some fit well with them, others do not, it's best to go try them on to see. SSOK's pretty right on with his comments. Only disagreement I have is about it hurting. It will sting, and in some cases cause bruising, and not on just the areas he mentioned. I have a pretty bruised up arm right now and 5-6 welts still on my chest from playing this past weekend. It's not unbearable, but it does hurt sometimes. ------------- "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man and live in a condor next to the beach" -- My 7yr old daughter. |
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 26 August 2011 at 9:25pm
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I have played four times since posting this. I really got good value in purchasing my project Salvo. I like the gun a lot. It fires well and has a great feel to it. I upgrade to the Tippmann 98 Custom Flatline barrel. You are correct about bruises. My left arm has three bruises my beg has a few as does my chest and abdomen. All in all I enjoy the experience a lot. Next Sunday I plan on playing at a field I have not yet played at. I plan on purchasing a vest and a pod holder in the not too distant future. As far as my mask goes, I wear contacts when I play until I can get sports glasses. I cannot play with my current glasses. Thank you for taking the time to reply. |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 1:18am
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Contacts are waaaaay better than dealing with glasses in a mask, they're simply more comfortable and you don't have to worry about fogging. If I have to give my eyes a rest from my contacts, I don't play, I just can't stand glasses in a mask.
That said, glad you had a good time! Pods become necessary pretty quickly unless you start playing stock class or open-class pump. When I first started out as a poor college student, I could make 500 rounds last me two days. But I soon found that when I started playing with larger groups of people, I needed more paint. I went overboard and picked up an 8 pod suspender harness that held 150's. It was way more than I actually needed and the hits on pods really got annoying after a while. That's why I eventually switched to a 5 pod drop-down pack which sits in the small of your back. It's handy, stays out of the way, and keeps a low profile. And unless you're planning on doing a lot of lying down on your back on the field, it's pretty darn comfortable too. Anyway, glad you've been enjoying the experience! I haven't been out in a while, but the itch to play is quickly working its way back in now that I know I've got free time coming up. |
Posted By: Mack
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 10:59am
This I have contacts that I only wear for paintball or snowblowing. ------------- 
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Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 27 August 2011 at 11:05pm
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...yea contact work way better than glasses. Another question if you guys dont mind.... Does an upgrade to the barrel make a huge difference? What about the type of paint. I play at a field that allows players with their own gear to bring their own paint. Any suggestions? I purchased paint from Sports Authority for a good price, however every third shot went astray. Thanks for all the good information guys!! |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 28 August 2011 at 12:15pm
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Aftermarket barrels make a big difference in accuracy over the stock barrel on almost any marker. What makes and even bigger difference than the finish of the interior of the barrel however, is paint-to-bore matching. The more exact fit, the more accurate the shot. That's why the most expensive barrels out there are kits that either have different sized backs, or sleeves the fit inside the barrel giving you the ability to match the paintball size to the bore of the barrel. Paint quality also matters. The el-cheapo sports authority or walmart paint usually sits for a while without being properly rotated, so the paintballs will form dimples, flat spots, or go out-of-round in general which messes with the flight dynamics. I tend to go for stuff from actual paintball pro-shops. It can usually be had for ~$40/2000 rounds which breaks down to $10/500 which isn't much more expensive than what you find at wal-mart etc.
For aftermarket barrels, on the basic end of things (single bore size) I like the J&J 14" Ceramic barrel. The ceramic lining reduces friction and allows you to "shoot your barrel clean" meaning that if you have a ball break in the barrel, the next 3-4 shots may go spinning off, but after that, you'll have cleared most, if not all, of the paint out of the barrel which will bring you back to 95% accuracy without having to use a squeegee or barrel mop. The most popular interchangeable insert system is the "Freak Kit" from Smart Parts. It's vastly more expensive, but you can usually find used ones in decent condition for a lot less than new. |
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 28 August 2011 at 6:56pm
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Thanks for the response, I plan on getting a new barrel next, then a response trigger, I still think I will start with the Tippmann 98 Custom Flatline barrel. Hurricane Irene washed out this weekend, but I plan on logging some hours this Labor day weekend. |
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 29 August 2011 at 8:54pm
After I did some research on the J & J 14" ceramic barrel I probably will get this barrel before I get the Tippmann Flatline. Thanks for the heads up. |
Posted By: Galen Adams
Date Posted: 31 August 2011 at 7:14pm
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You might take a look at the Lapco Barrels too. I've been playing for about 14 years and the http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-98-One-Piece-Barrels-s/766.htm - Lapco BigShot paintball barrels are hard to beat. They can be a bit louder than some others like the J&J ceramic paintball barrels but the quality and consistency of the Lapco's are top notch. I don't have any charts or graphs to show you, just an opinion of a long time player.
------------- http://www.TippmannParts.com - http://www.TippmannParts.com http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-and-US-Army-Paintball-Guns-Markers-s/81.htm - Tippmann Paintball Gun Comparison |
Posted By: tallen702
Date Posted: 31 August 2011 at 9:25pm
I suggested the J&J over LAPCO for both price, and due to the fact that paint has been shrinking over the years. The bigshot was fantastic with older ZAP! and RPS paint, but ever since procaps empire, and JT took over the manufacturing of paintballs, the caliber has shrunk significantly meaning that the fit isn't as good with a standard bigshot as it is with a "tighter" J&J Ceramic. Now, if LAPCO still made the autospirit..... |
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 31 August 2011 at 11:40pm
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Hey guys thanks for the information. Yesterday I picked up a used J & J ceramic 14" barrel at a local store for a pretty decent price. I used it for the first time tonight. I went through about 200 balls at the target range, and then I played a few games of paintball. The gun fires very nice, and pretty accurate. compared to the stock barrel. The next thing I want to get is a cyclone air feeder hopper. After that I want to get the response trigger. |
Posted By: Mike Gallo
Date Posted: 31 August 2011 at 11:45pm
I looked these up, however they are out of my price range right now. As I progress I certainly will consider one of these barrels, they look bad-ass. Thanks for the heads up. |
Posted By: Galen Adams
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 10:15am
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Yep, the J&J's are a bit cheaper and especially if you were able to get a good used one. Congrats. You'll have a lot more fun when the paint goes where it's supposed to. That's something we say at the store when people are looking at which paint to buy. You can save a few bucks per case by getting cheaper paint. Or you can shoot a few less balls with a better paint that goes where its supposed to. A good barrel's the first upgrade we recommend so have fun!
------------- http://www.TippmannParts.com - http://www.TippmannParts.com http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-and-US-Army-Paintball-Guns-Markers-s/81.htm - Tippmann Paintball Gun Comparison |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 11:14am
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Shop at a store that has its own field. You can always ask to test out the barrel for a session. I personally like my CP barrel on my A5. ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site 
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Posted By: Galen Adams
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 11:36am
Great idea. Your shop lets you do that? At our stores (and every other one I've heard of) the barrels are a non-returnable, non-testable item because once they're "tested" they're used. I'm just curious. If you were at a shop/field and were able to test several barrels and then pick the one you wanted would you mind buying one that had been shot/tested before by other players for the "new" price or would you want it cheaper? We're always looking for new ideas for our stores. ------------- http://www.TippmannParts.com - http://www.TippmannParts.com http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-and-US-Army-Paintball-Guns-Markers-s/81.htm - Tippmann Paintball Gun Comparison |
Posted By: oldpbnoob
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 11:42am
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To be honest, I have never run into a store that lets you test items either. Heck I can't even get the store that Ifrequient to let me air up a marker and fire it , let alone run paint through it.
BTW Gallen, there is no buying or selling on the forums. The mods may take your llinking to your website as an act of selling. You may want to check with them before conitinuing to post your website in your sig as well as posting links to parts for sale in the store you work at. ------------- "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man and live in a condor next to the beach" -- My 7yr old daughter. |
Posted By: Ceesman762
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 11:47am
I like the CP on my 98. On one of my A5's I have the Proto 14" and a Smart parts 12". Both are great. ------------- Innocence proves nothing FUAC!!!!! |
Posted By: The Guy
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 11:57am
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Any scratches or dings in the barrel, and you just bought it. Part of the agreement when they hold your ID. All barrels are able to be cleaned up though. Just run hot water through them to clean up any gelatin and paint. Generally they would only let you use it on a range. Not in play. ------------- http://www.anomationanodizing.com - My Site
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Posted By: Galen Adams
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 12:19pm
Noted. Is there a list of mods somewhere? ------------- http://www.TippmannParts.com - http://www.TippmannParts.com http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-and-US-Army-Paintball-Guns-Markers-s/81.htm - Tippmann Paintball Gun Comparison |
Posted By: oldpbnoob
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 12:27pm
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Probably the easiet way is to click on post options and report the thread. Ask if you are ok with your sig and posts and it goes to all the mods. ------------- "When I grow up I want to marry a rich man and live in a condor next to the beach" -- My 7yr old daughter. |
Posted By: Galen Adams
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 12:37pm
Done thanks! ------------- http://www.TippmannParts.com - http://www.TippmannParts.com http://www.tippmannparts.com/Tippmann-and-US-Army-Paintball-Guns-Markers-s/81.htm - Tippmann Paintball Gun Comparison |
Posted By: Evil Elvis
Date Posted: 01 September 2011 at 3:52pm
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So far it's all kosher ------------- 
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