Paintball Fields

Paintball Fields
by Tony Kirk

Have you ever walked onto a new paintball field and wondered how good could it really be? Keep in mind that it's not just what the field has, but the people who run it are just as important. Paintball fields are just like any other establishment. They can be really well built and have terrible owners, or vice versa. But in any case, a good indicator as to the quality of the field is the price and availability of parts at it's pro-shop.

Any field worth it's salt will have a pro-shop on the premises or very near by. If you walk in and like the selection and prices of the field, you're dealing with someone who knows what they're doing. I make it a point to look to see if they have their own repair shop on site. Next, I ask to see one of their rental guns. The condition in which they keep their rental guns is really a testament to how the field is run. If the rental guns are used, but well kept, you can expect fair referees and knowledgeable people as the norm. At the other end of the spectrum is the rental gun that will barely re-cock because of how grimy up it is. Expect referees who often side with friends and take care to watch your back.

The kind of rental gun matters too. If the gun is a Tippmann 98, they expect all kinds of players, who know how to play, to be renting guns. If they've got Tippmann Pro Carbines, they probably expect more experienced (by experienced I mean over 30 yrs. old, and I'm not saying young players are inexperienced) players. But if you see a massive fleet of Spyders, they're looking for a cheap gun (and expect cheap players) which they can toss and buy a new one if repairs get too pricey.

Another indicator of the quality of the field is the price and type of paint they use. If the price is fair and it's a decent quality, you're at a good field. If the paint is over priced and a cheap shell, you're looking at a field that's just trying to milk you for all you're worth. Keep in mind, these are just contributing factors to the field. If you walk out into the arena, things can change very quickly.

When I walk onto a good outdoor arena floor, I expect the dirt to be hosed and raked once in a while. If it is an indoor-carpeted field, I expect the carpet to be cleaned every two weeks, at least a little. I was at a really good indoor warehouse and they changed the carpet every two weeks, washed the old stuff, and rotated it back through. If the field is permanent, I want to see about half of the obstacles permanently fixed, and the other half of the transient, hyper-ball variety. If the field does that, they expect to have all kinds of player with all different strategies.

Keep in mind, this is not an end-all-be-all guide. There is a lot I missed, but if you don't enjoy playing at the field, you can always find another place to play. Playing at someone's field shouldn't be a chore.

Have fun and play nice.