Last updated on October 15th, 2023
Paintball is meant for having fun with adrenaline rush, stress relieving while getting some workout. But, if you’re new to paintball, there’s one thing you might not expect: Injuries.
Paintball is, primarily, a risk-free activity. However, during all that overwhelming excitement, injuries like welts and bruises are possible. In this blog post, I will share my experience, from what I have learned playing in the field for years, on how to avoid paintball bruises and welts. There are few things to take care of, from where to step and where to point your marker. So Let’s start!
1. Keep the Mask On!
The average paintball speed is around 30 fps (feet per second) which is enough to harm your eyes on hitting directly. So, ALWAYS KEEP YOUR MASK OWN! I could recall an incident from the field, where a new player tilted his mask just half way and the paintball ricocheted inside, scarring his Retina.
No matter if the mask is covered up in paint, or it’s raining, fogging, Never take it off. Keep a micro fiber with you, wipe it, walk off the field and only then take it off.
2. Stretch – My G.I:
Stretch, Stretch Stretch! Before the game, during the break or whenever you feel stiff. Whatever the stretching techniques you might already know from working out, just do it before jumping into the game. This will help you maintain an overall flexibility and get your muscle ready for the game.
Checkout this video with great stretching tips and tricks for Paintball.
3. More Layers Lesser Pain:
Wearing numerous layers of clothes is the ideal approach to lessen the pain you experience when struck by a paintball. It will reduce the chances that a paintball will leave a bruise or welt behind. You don’t just have any gear, but many layers of long-sleeved shirts and slacks. The multi-layer gear ensures that it should reduce the intensity of the pain. The paintball will hit those layers before making an impact on your body. MAKE sure to consider the weather because the number of layers can cause suffocation and heatstroke in severely hot conditions.
4. Understand The Game:
Do you think NASA sent an astronaut into space without extensive training? Nops!
Understanding the game and the playing style is the most simple approach to prevent getting stuck in the first place. It would help if you prepared similarly for your first paintball match. Spend more time with more experienced players, and learn the game from them.Moreover, Before purchasing a marker and gears conduct an extensive study and find the right fit for you. It will be worthwhile in the long term. The better you understand the game, the more you will be able to avoid getting Hurt.
5. Follow The Rules:
Paintball leagues make rules for a purpose. The league leaders should be experienced and knowledgeable in keeping athletes safe. Make sure you play the safest game possible according to the regulations. When you obey the rules, you are not only keeping yourself safe but also all the other players in the league.
If you see that someone from your team is not following the rules, you must speak out and notify them. For the sportsmanship, it’s still vital to establish some ground rules before you begin.
6. Avoid Getting Hit:
Play smartly, follow the tactics, avoid getting hit. This doesn’t mean to have a fear of getting hit by the paintball in your mind. I just mean to learn the tactics of how to play better. Stay tucked when you’re behind the bunker, Keep everything (elbows, Face, arms, your tank, the goggles) tucked.
7. Stay in the Pack:
You’ll hear several defensive strategies and tactics from experts while playing paintball. I also usually used to hear as a child that you should be at the back if you don’t want to be hit. But this is not true; instead, you should be in the middle to protect yourself.
You might be wondering why the folks staying at the back are not safest? While this is mostly true, there’s a big chance that guys on the other team will surround you and shoot you in the back. Most people do this to new players since they never seem to anticipate you to come up behind them. So stay in the pack’s center unless you’re sure no hostile players may sneak behind you.
8. Complete Gears
Choosing the appropriate gear is also important when it comes to protection during paintball play. You must comprehend why you require each piece of equipment and how it will safeguard your body.
Checkout our What to wear to paintball guide. Here are a some of the key things to include on your list:
- Tactical trousers
- Baseball cap
- Mask
- Goggles
- Tactical Gloves (cover the fingers)
- Vest
- Thick shirts
Gears are crucial in keeping you safe as you play this fantastic game. Continue down the list until you’ve covered every inch of your body.
9. Camo and Sneakiness:
Although camouflage is useful at long ranges or if you know hunting and camo really well. Still, Wearing camouflage , darker shades of clothing and being patient will not reduce the likelihood of a bruise or welt being left behind, it will help you avoid getting shot.
What works better than Camos is utilising shadows, keeping the movement slow helps better to avoid getting shot. People usually give away their movements with jerky movements. It’s harder to see someone wearing darker color than to see someone in brighter color. Do Camo, but don’t overdo it. In my opinion, camo shirt and pants are enough. I have never found Ghillie suits to be that effective. Better to learn how to walk quietly and to use covers.
10. Stay involved – Play Aggressive:
At the beginning, when I started playing, The idea of “keep you adrenaline” to reduce the pain, sounded silly to me. It looked like an idea to rather shoot up the pain. But I was Wrong! Playing aggressively is the right way to divert your brain from the pain. Its not impracticable because running and playing passionately warms your blood. Eventually, the warmth of the blood relieves the agony.
FAQS – Paintball Bruises and Welts
How Long Do Paintball bruises last?
You may be wondering how long it will take to recover paintball welts and bruises now that you know how to avoid them. Although they should never endure longer than a week or two, the answer varies from person to person.
Welt wounds often heal faster than bruises. A welt might go away in a matter of days, but a bruise can take up to two weeks to recover entirely. The bruise will gradually go away until it is no longer visible. Meanwhile, keep using at-home therapies till your skin clears up.
How Much Do Paintballs Hurt?
It is reasonable to assume that being struck with a paintball hurts. The pain of being hit by a paintball, on the other hand, is so slight that it might be overlooked. Because people feel pain differently, there is no universal scale for determining how much it hurts.
Most people say paintball does not hurt too much; it generally feels like a solid flick. However, this is dependent on how quickly the ball is moving, how far it goes, and where it impacts you on the body. Paintball injuries are unlikely to be severe, but you should expect a few minor bruises and bumps. Nonetheless, the discomfort of being struck by a paintball should not deter you from participating in this fantastic game.
Wrapping up – Final Words!
You are now the master to avoid paintball bruises and welts. If you apply all the valuable information you learned today to your gameplay, you may never have to deal with a nasty bruise or welt again. But Remember, The purpose of paintball is to have fun. There would never be that much paint, inflict enough to make you want to stop. So, Go out there, Have Fun!
