Action Paintball Games

I’ve been to Action Paintball a few times and I honestly say I’ve had fun every time (though I’m happy to have bruises and a few scrapes and scratches).
They run a pretty tight ship for a Paintball place, they explain all the rules clearly, give you ample opportunity for fun and action, and mix up the matches with differing courses and game types.
Here are some basic rules I have after being here a couple of times:
1) Dress accordingly — wear something comfortable (not jeans) and expect whatever you are wearing to get paint /​dirt /​mud on them — don’t wear brand new shoes or your favourite polo shirt.
2) Don’t waste ammo — You’ll be amazed how quickly you’ll burn through your paintballs, so don’t waste them during the «practise area», you only need to fire about 3 shots to know if your gun is working fine.
3) Upgrade your gun — pay a little bit more and get a better gun. The better the gun, the more accurate your shooting will be, and the more fun you’ll have. NB: If you buy a semi-​auto gun (one that you can fire like a machine gun with the large trigger), REMEMBER that it will burn through your ammo — plan accordingly.
4) Use some tactics — you’ll work out quickly that walking/​running up the middle of a map without cover will get you shot pretty quickly. Alternatively, don’t sit back and wait for things to happen — no point being there if you are going to sit down and not participate.
5) Take care when ‘reloading’ your gun — nothing is more depressing than dropping a quarter of your ammo on the ground because you were clumsy.
Other than that you’ll work out your own theories and ways to play. I loved their «Gallipoli» game, where one team is «The Aussies» and has to fight their way up the map to get a flag at the top of a hill, whilst the other team, «The Turks», defend the hill.
I would also suggest going with a medium sized group (work mates, school mates etc). Playing against massive amounts of people can really suck since you have too many people crowding the map and you are getting shot at from every direction.
You will end up with bruises, and the paintballs can hurt, so don’t cry about it. Ladies get extra padding for protection, and guys can purchase cups to protect themselves. You can purchase all kinds of padding etc if you are worried, but remember, the more you wear, the slower you’ll be.
Have fun!

Yes, it’s all good and well to get in touch with your inner Tomb Raider — but warning ladies do not go paintballing if you have any important events coming up in the next few weeks which require you to be bruise free — because let me tell you — those little balls of coloured goodness are pellets of pain and disaster if they hit you in the wrong place…
Bruises aside, Paintballing is a fund way to spend a few hours with your friends getting savage and competitive — I think it brings out a really interesting side of people — normally a very competitive violent side you normally wouldn’t see…
In fact — perhaps this is a great place to bring a potential dating suitor, as you’ll get the chance to see how they face a battle and then you can decide whether you’re like it. Are they a a fair loser? A spoiler? A meany or some guy you know you’re never going to see again after Paintball… as you can see a take the psychological side of warfare very seriously — even if its with paint!

I remember doing this when I was 18 and on a school activity (British schooling system — give them guns, they’ll be fine!) and remember it being a lot of fun. Then a few years on, I’m in the depth of my 20s and that fun has been replaced by a distinct sense that this hurts more than it is enjoyable. Maybe they just gave us less powerful guns back then, but either way, the sensation of having a hard paint ball explode on your exposed hand or on top of your head, just doesn’t fill me with the desire to keep coming back!
What made it more interesting was the other guys who weren’t with us, but in the same group who thought they were in Apocalypse Now and needed to cause some real damage. Plus, they seemed very excited to be given guns, which is never a good sign.
Prices start at $ 59, which includes 300 paintballs if you haven’t paid a deposit, or 400 if you have. You can then add additional bullets and upgrade your gun from the standard «Ouch» model, up to the «Oww, what the f$^# you f%^#&$^ c&#^» model. The knock on effect of upgrading though is they have rapid fire capabilities which is all well and good, but if you’ve got the aim of someone like me, then you’ll just end up painting the trees a pretty colour instead of hitting anyone, then you have to pay for more bullets!
The actual place is pretty good, it’s just not really my idea of fun!

A weekend spent with work colleagues is not my favourite way of spending my two days off but a short while ago I did just that and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
The social club of the company I worked for had arranged a day at Action Paintball. I lived in Annangrove so really didn’t have an excuse not to go. Now I’m no spring chicken and I was unsure at how I would end up, I had heard all sorts of things about paintball — I heard of people getting hurt and I must admit I wasn’t one of the first to start firing.
When we arrived at about 10.00, we all got into the gear, were given a demonstration and we were off. The staff were excellent, helping out the people who weren’t sure what to do and kicking a couple of guys out that were misbehaving.
It was a blast. Some of the managers had come along and I really felt sorry for them. How often do you get a chance to blast one of them and receive no retaliation?
As people got covered in paint — we had a lot of minor injuries (paint splatters) and people who should have stopped playing because they had been ‘shot’, I really got into the game and had the time of my life.
I no longer work for the company anymore but I will always remember the day I played paintball.