The only way to stay alive is to not get shot. I know that’s easier said than done, but there are a lot of things you can do that will keep you in the game longer. Because, as we all know, it’s much more fun to be playing than watching from the staging area. So, follow these easy to learn steps and watch your game improve. Make Like a Tree It stands to reason that harder you are to see, the less paint YOU’LL see flying at you. Camouflage is the key. If you have some old army uniforms, wear them. If there’s a surplus store near you grab a long sleeve camouflage shirt and matching pants for about $20 and suit up. Not only will these BDU’s (battle dress uniforms) hide you better than your plaid pants and Hooters T-shirt, they’re also the type of clothes that are made to withstand the running and jumping and sliding you’re bound to do during play. Besides, if they do stain or tear who cares, they’re just paintball clothes. Another option is to grab a killer deal at SplatDogs and get a jersey that resembles the surroundings of your play area. These specially designed clothes help keep wick moisture off of your body, are made for the sport, and look really cool. However, if you are still too new to invest in new duds, at least consider your choice of clothing for the day. Your bright yellow shirt and jeans might be hip, but are definitely easy to see. Look in the closet for clothes that are sturdy, blend with the field conditions, and allow for movement. One more thing about clothes: Bring a change for after the game. You will get dirty and your car will show how hard you played unless you have something clean for the ride home. (This outfit does NOT have to be camouflage—or even coordinate.) RUN!!! Don’t Walk! When the whistle blows to start the game, your responsibility is to run to your position. If you do not do this, you will lag behind and will have to bunker down earlier than anticipated. This usually leads to an early death for you and one less player for your team. In almost every game I have played, some guy walked from his flag to his first bunker. Meanwhile, the rest of his team is running like crazy to take more field, but they’re short one man. Don’t be this guy. You getting killed early ruins the plan for the rest of the team and, almost as bad, you’re out of the game. Be Unpredictable So, you ran to your first position. But, now you are bunkered in and in a firefight with someone else bunkered in. What do you do? Shoot back, of course! And, the easiest way to do that is to find the most comfortable or safest spot on the bunker, pop up from that spot and shoot...pop up and shoot...pop up and shoot. (Lather, rinse, repeat.) Eventually though your enemy will fix his marker on your “pop up point” and take you out. The only thing the enemy should be able to predict about you is that you ARE going to shoot back. Choose different sides to shoot from, different heights on the sides, and at different intervals between shots—you can even vary between one, two, and three-round bursts. This will make your enemy’s shot less accurate because he has only a couple of seconds to see you, aim, and shoot back. A couple of techniques involved with being unpredictable. One, learn to shoot right and left-handed. You will always be a better shot with your dominant hand, but with a little practice, you can lay down some effective cover fire and even take out a “predictable” enemy with your weak hand. Two, DO NOT BLIND FIRE! Blind fire is when you stick your gun over the bunker and shoot without looking. The only thing anyone ever hits with blind fire is the referee. Not good. Three, try to predict what the other guy is going to do. If he varies his fire from behind the bunker, fix on a position he has not shot from in awhile and when he exposes himself for his shot, give him two to the chest. Cover Up, Time to Move As a player, when you advance (or retreat), you move from one cover to the next. However, moving under cover is superior. Now, you may be thinking, “The fields I’ve played on have bunkers separated by 15-50 feet. How am I supposed to move under cover?” Good question. Look around. Are there bushes or a trench? Get on your belly and crawl. Tall grass is just as good as a large tree as long as your enemy can’t see you. Sometimes tall grass or weeds are better than a traditional bunker. Because, it allows you to advance and pull back over a larger area. Take your time when using the landscape as cover. Remember, to avoid detection, the shorter the grass, the slower you have to move. As a rule, slow and steady generally beats the quick long run from bunker to bunker. If you want to live longer, stay under as much cover as possible. Use the weeds, grasses, and dirt berms as protection while on the move. There you have it, four strategies to keep you in the game longer. I’m sure there are more and I’d love to hear them. So, if you have something to say or a question or an idea for an article, e-me at marty_may@hotmail.com. Put Splatdogs somewhere in the subject line and I promise to get back with you. Would you like to write an article for SplatDogs? Send us an email with a sample article. Email |
