If you are new to the world of paintball, you may have heard that you'll need a paintball marker. But what is a paintball marker and why do you need it?

Like all sports, players have to wear protective gear and use the right equipment to play. Players use various equipment in a paintball game. And each piece of gear is necessary, but the essential part of this equipment will be your paintball marker.

What Is a Paintball Marker?

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To put it simply, a paintball marker is the gun you use in the game of paintball. The terms “paintball gun” and “paintball marker” are interchangeable.

So now you know: What is a paintball marker? But why is a paintball gun called a paintball marker? If you find yourself asking this question, then you've come to the right place!

There's a reason behind the name.

The Difference Between a Gun and a Marker

When asking what is a paintball marker, we look to the mid-sixties. In that time, a man named Charles Nelson was asked to design a device that would help foresters. What he invented was the paintball marker.

The original design of the paintball marker was initially used to mark trees or livestock rather than people. It would save foresters and ranchers time by giving them the ability to mark from a distance.

Years later, Nelson decided that he might have more success if he sold his paintball marker as a toy. At the time, BB guns were popular, so he contacted the air-soft company, Daisy, to construct the first paintball marker.

After seeing the paintball marker in a catalog, a man named Bob Gurnsey and his friends set out to settle an arguement — could a novice survive in combat against a trained hunter?

Testing their theory, they invited six woodsmen to compete in a game of capture the flag against six untrained players. All players were equipped with maps, whistles, and paintball markers.

The first paintball game occurred on June 7, 1981, in the New Hampshire woods. Incidentally, the winner of this first-ever game didn't fire a single shot. Instead, he stealthily collected all the flags to win.

One of the other participants wrote an article about the experience for Sports Illustrated. This instantly made the game famous and brought paintball to a whole new generation of players, and they subsequently shaped the sport into the paintball we know and play today.

What is a paintball marker? It's the beginning of the paintball game itself.

Understanding the Main Types of Paintball Markers

Now that we've answered your question of "What is a paintball marker?" let's learn about the different types.

Paintball markers come in many styles, and the type of gun can influence your game. Whether you are buying your gun or renting one from the field, there are a few things to consider.

The first and most important thing for you to know is what type of marker to use.

With so many options on the market, there is a paintball gun for every type of gameplay and skill level. However, every kind of marker comes with its unique pros and cons.

Even though there are dozens of models, paintball markers can be broken down into three defining types.

Choosing the Best Paintball Marker for Your Game

Now that we've gone over "What is a paintball marker?" and the different types of markers available, what paintball is right for you?

Your choice of paintball marker can make or break your game.

First, you must choose which type of game you want to play. Like your equipment, there are many different paintball fields, and there is a marker best suited for each game. So you will want to choose a marker that complements your skills and helps your gameplay.

All paintball games are categorized into two unique styles: woodsball and speedball.

Woodsball

Photo by Muhammad Taufik via Unsplash

Woodsball is the original form of the sport and is usually played outdoors. These games depend on the terrain, and the pace of the game is moderately slow. They can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to hours, to even days, depending on the style of game.

There is a wide range of playing styles in woodsball, which allows you room to choose and customize your marker. You can play aggressively, or you may find that you prefer the more tactical way to defeat your opponents more appealing.

Either way, you want to focus on choosing a marker that can fire long distances. The wooded fields are large, and players get spaced out, so you are typically far from your target. Accuracy is also essential in this style due to all the trees, bunkers, and brush you have to shoot around.

And what is a paintball marker good for if it can't hit your mark?

The most common markers for woodsball are typically the semi-automatic mechanical or the classic pump-action guns. Both of these markers have a long firing range and excellent accuracy.

Speedball

Image via Pixabay

As the name suggests, speedball is all about speed. Unlike woodsball, this type of game is extremely fast-paced and usually lasts around three to four minutes at a time.

Yes, it's that fast!

In speedball, you'll have to move very quickly to get the perfect angle on your opponents as they take cover behind specially designed bunkers. The fields are usually smaller, and the play style more aggressive.

If you plan on playing speedball, you must have a gun that will respond quickly. Electronic markers are for speed. They are efficient and much faster than mechanical or pump-action guns.

Therefore, electronic markers are an excellent choice and best suited in games of speedball.

Every Game of Paintball Begins with Your Paintball Marker

via Giphy

Your first paintball marker is a significant investment. And while these devices are all paintball guns, the term paintball marker comes from the early history of paintball. Additionally, the term "marker" might be less controversial than saying "gun" when describing the game of paintball to those who don't play.

So the next time someone asks the question: "What is a paintball marker," you can tell them it's the most essential piece of equipment in the game.

Which term do you prefer using when referring to paintball? Please let us know by leaving a comment below!

You know the score. You're constantly searching for the best paintball places, but they keep coming up short. That's because the most common problem run-of-the-mill paintball facilities have is that they're just too small. Namely, it's hard to enjoy the thrill of battle when you're stuck in a space the size of a dining room.

But what if you could find the best paintball places in America and never need to search for another again?

Now we're talking.

Because there's good news. In particular, America is filled with awesome paintball battlefields, both indoor and out. Some of them replicate entire historic battlefields, like Vietnam, Normandy, or Stalingrad. Meanwhile, others use their imagination. For instance, you can paintball in a spaceship, or face off in a Wolfenstein-styled basement. We love the rooms filled with American Gladiator-style equipment. They give lots of opportunities to jump and roll and blast your opponents.

That's just a small sampling. America is great for many reasons. Paintball is one of them!

And because we want you to have the best time of your life, every time, we set out to find the best paintball places in America.

Let's take a look.

Bring It On!

Do you want to know where to find the best paintball places in America? Then first you need to figure out your criteria.

You see, everyone has different wants from their paintball experience. For instance, I personally love outdoors paintball, especially when there are villages and even crashed helicopters to fight in and around. But not everybody wants that. A lot of people love to battle indoors. Some go for large team battles. Referees included. Others enjoy the thrill of solo combat. So, when determining the best paintball places, you need to set your criteria.

Thankfully, there are some criteria that can apply to everyone.

How We Reviewed

To help you find the best paintball places in America, we scoured the internet looking for quality reviews. One thing we learned is that there are A LOT of paintball places in this country! Unfortunately, not all are great. But we did find a few gems.

We sorted the diamonds from the coal by reading customer reviews on sites like Yelp and Google Reviews (through Google Maps). We tend to skip web forums because they're not always friendly or authoritative due to their anonymity.

The 7 Best Paintball Places in America

With all that out of the way, where are the best paintball places in America?

For starters, the good news is that there is an awesome paintball facility in nearly every region of the US. For example, if you were to divide the country into west coast, north-east, south-east, midwest, and south-west, there's an awesome place to play in every region.

That being said, just because the local paintball place isn't on our list doesn't mean it's not good. It's just that these ones really stand out. Also, we didn't list these in any particular order.

Check it out.

Any Place Is Great for Paintball

Let's admit it, any place is awesome for paintball. Have you ever walked through a busy shopping mall and dreamt that you could turn it into a paintball zone? Or is that just me?

The point is, paintball is the most fun you can have with a mask on. We love paintball, and these are some of the best paintball places you'll find in America today. That being said, if you have a local paintball place that we didn't mention, and you think it's the best, let us know in the comments!

Thrill seekers, gamers, athletes, and your little niece all are perfectly suited for paintball. For as hardcore as it sounds when you initially learn about what is paintball, the sport is fit for anyone with a fire in their eyes.

Paintball's a team sport with predetermined objectives. Players tag each other with gelatin capsules shot from markers. Once tagged, a player is out.

Unlike traditional sports, paintball focuses on an entirely unique set of skills. Whereas most sports require mastery over your body, paintball incorporates aim, tactics, and situational awareness into the mix. However, another loveable aspect of paintball is its fun factor, as many enthusiasts simply enjoy playing rather than winning.

What Is Paintball?

In essence, paintball is like the adult form of water tag. You run around with markers, which are like your water guns, and shoot other people with paintballs. When you hit someone with a paintball it leaves a splatter of water-soluble paint on them indicating they're out.

The difference is that markers shoot paintballs up to 300 feet per second, and can leave fat bruises all over you.

But don't let that scare you off! When learning about what is paintball, you'll find safety is the number one priority at every field. There is also clothing you can wear to make paintballs sting less.

On the other hand, fellow thrill seekers will agree the sting is part of what makes paintball so exhilarating. Charging a group of enemies gets your blood flowing, unlike any other sport.

Unlike Airsoft or laser tag, you fear getting hit not only because it takes you out of the game, but also because you simply don't want a flurry of paintballs to pelt you.

Entering the arena

So what is paintball like in person? Before even walking into a paintball arena you'll be able to hear the action. You'll first notice the symphony of markers popping off in the distant battlefield.

As you get closer you'll hear the shouts the fallen. Various voices from every direction shouting "Aghhh, HIT!"

Once you get close enough to see the action you'd think you're in a war zone. You'll see masked forms armed with markers hiding behind trees, peeking out windows, and coordinating attacks on the other team. You'll hear them calling out enemy locations while others sprint across the field, diving from cover to cover.

A sport of honor and comradery

After you watch both sides engage in high-paced combat, you might find yourself shocked by what happens when the round ends. After everyone exits the field they're all laughing. Opponents shake hands and joke about their various encounters.

Everyone shares their own stories of the battle. Also, they joke about how they got caught by complete surprise and commend other players on their heroic moves.

At the end of the day, everyone's on the field for a good time. Also, because paintball requires you to call your own hits, there's an underlying respect for each other in the sport. When you learn about what is paintball in person, you'll notice players respect one another both on and off the field.

Even if throughout your day you were getting hit more than you were tagging other players, you'll still walk away with a smile on your face. There's something special about the bonds you make with your teammates and your opponents during paintball.

So many times you'll find yourself in a pinch with one of your teammates. You'll both huddle behind a small plywood sheet as the other team bombards it. You both laugh about the situation but know you need to find a way to get out of it.

When all seems lost, your teammate yells at you to you retreat back to your team while he covers you. You sprint back to cover, and eventually your buddy dashes back to you through a hailstorm of paintballs. From then on, you know you've got a friend you can trust through thick and thin.

Finding Your Stride

After learning about what is paintball, you might decide it's right up your alley. However, now you have to figure out how to get into it.

Joining a passionate community

Lucky for you, you'll find paintball an easy sport to dive into. Plenty of paintball fields have rental equipment and paintballs for you to use. You'll have to pay to use the equipment of course, but it's a very easy way to try out the sport and see if you like it.

All you have to do is Google search for paintball fields near you and check their site. Their website or Facebook page will usually tell you if they have rental gear.

While you're on their webpage, you can find out when they have open play days. These are the days where you're free to just show up at the scheduled time and play paintball. They'll usually split everyone that arrives up into teams, and then choose various game types to play.

If you have any friends who are interested, make sure to bring them along! Paintball's loads of fun when playing with your friends.

But don't worry if you can't get anyone to come. It's easy to make friends while you're at the field because everyone there is passionate about the sport.

Suiting up for battle

Once you have a paintball day scheduled, you'll need to gear up. Paintball's an athletic sport so you need to dress accordingly. What you should wear depends on what the field is like.

If the field is in the woods, you'll want long sleeves, pants, and boots with ankle support. Covering your skin will keep you from getting scratched by thorns. Having traction and proper ankle support will keep you from spraining your ankles.

If you'll just be in a speedball field with a flat surface and the only cover is soft barriers, you won't have to worry about protective clothing as much.

If you're worried about paintballs hurting, you have a few options. Our first suggestion if you'll be in the woods is a BDU jacket. The camouflage comes in handy, but what's really special is that these jackets are thick yet breathable.

Wearing layers also really helps. Bringing a hoodie to wear over a thick cotton shirt can do wonders. You can even wear one or two long-sleeve shirts under the hoodie for further protection.

Also, covering any exposed skin and wearing a beanie to protect the top of your head is helpful. Gloves are nice too, as well as a bandana to wrap around your neck. To find out our favorite articles of clothing for paintball, visit our guide on what to wear paintballing.

Finally, you might want to invest in a paintball mask. Even though you can rent a mask at most places that rent out equipment, their masks are usually scratched up and might not fit right.

Because your mask is one of your most important tools on the field, you'll want one that fits. If you think you'd like your own mask, check out our guide on finding the best paintball mask.

Getting a feel for the ropes

Because paintball's such a unique sport, you might feel a little awkward at the start of your first match. Don't fret, as you'll eventually fall into the groove of things. Your initial goal should just be to learn and have fun.

At the start, you'll likely find it helpful to follow a group of teammates around. They'll both act as a distraction for the other team and give you a helping hand. Your teammates will be able to tell you how you can best help them, but also you'll start picking up on what they do.

You'll first notice is how they avoid getting hit. You'll see they constantly move from cover and cover, rarely opening themselves up as targets. Avoiding getting tagged will be your first priority.

Once you get a hang of using cover, you'll be able to start focusing on tagging opponents. A tip for shooting at opponents is to limit the amount of time they can see you. So once you locate an opponent, peek out of your cover and shoot at them quickly, then hide again.

If you stay still for too long while shooting at an opponent, a second unseen opponent has the chance to aim and tag you with ease.

Wrapping It Up

Now you can see the answer to "What is paintball?" is as diverse as the people who play it. Paintball can be a competitive endeavor in which players aim to be the best there is. Also, paintball can be an exciting past time to bond with friends. And finally, paintball can simply give you an exciting way to get some exercise.

No matter why you come to the field, you'll find yourself welcomed by a close-knit and enthusiastic community. We hope you'll try paintball out and find out why so many people love this sport and what it has to offer.

Be sure to share your thoughts, tips, and tricks about the game in the comment section below.

The first thing that will probably come to your mind when you think of paintball is a large, outdoor field. While it's true that paintball is usually considered an outdoor sport, indoor paintball can be just as fun and entertaining.

Paintball is an intense and competitive sport that offers a wide variety of playing fields. It is a fast-paced strategy game that can temporarily turn your closest friends into your focused enemy.

Both outdoor and indoor paintball games offer up close action as you take part in a series of exciting missions.