PAINTBALL

Paintball is a fun & exciting team sport that involves players competing to eliminate opponents and complete objectives by tagging them with paint-filled pellets called paintballs, fired from a compressed gas powered gun, otherwise known as a marker. Paintball combines strategy, teamwork, and adrenaline-filled fun, making it ideal for people of all ages and skill levels.  WOODSBALL PAINTBALL Sitting on over 100 acres of varied terrain, woodsball is the heart of what we do here at Splat Action. Woodsball is simply a term for any game of paintball played in wooded terrain and the play style itself differs from paintball played on a speedball or hyperball course. In woodsball - stealth, endurance, and tactical finesse are the hallmark virtues of the game. The terrain is a weapon to use against your opponent and a shield to protect you and hide your movement. Your brain is the most important muscle to use and a patient, observant player is often the most dangerous. There is still plenty of room in woodsball for rushing across the field and charging into the teeth of the enemy, but the game is more dynamic and varied in the way it plays out. We have over twenty standard game formats to choose from and can customize the scenario to fit your group as needed.  HYPERBALL PAINTBALL For those seeking a more adrenaline soaked experience, Splat Action offers several fields outside the heavily forested areas where the action is more upfront and fast-paced. We define any game in one of these areas as “hyperball.” The primary differences between a game of hyperball and traditional speedball that you may find at other fields, is that we use permanent obstacles as cover instead of inflatable ones and we do not host standard tournament format games, which rely on a perfectly mirrored set of covers on each side of the field. Other than that, the play-styles are very similar. The action starts almost as soon as the game begins, energetic firing and maneuvering is used to control the field, and each round tends to last no more than about ten minutes or so.  BASIC PAINTBALL TERMINOLOGY Marker: The device used to fire paintballs (commonly known as a paintball gun). Hopper: A container attached to the marker that holds paintballs. Pods: Reusable, cylindrical plastic containers used to carry extra ammunition (paintballs) onto the field that feature a spring-loaded, locking, or hinge-top lid for quick, one-handed, in-game reloading into a marker's hopper. Barrel Bag/Sock: Small Bag that goes over the end of the marker for extra safety Bunker: Obstacles on the field used for cover.

The honest answer is - yes, paintball hits can sting slightly, but the pain disappears very quickly. As long as you take proper precautions and wear protective clothing to avoid discomfort, you will likely walk away thinking it didn’t hurt as much as you expected. Most players say the anticipation hurts more than the hit! At Splat Action we take a number of precautions to keep players comfortable: High Quality Paintballs Only! Paintballs are soft, gelatin-based balls and they are designed to burst on impact.  At Splat, we require that all players use “field paint” - that means paint provided by us. This helps us ensure that all paintballs used on the field are of high quality only, because high quality paintballs are made to break more easily on impact. Safety Testing Before every game, all paintball markers are “chronographed”, which means that we test the power and velocity at which they are shooting to ensure they adhere to safety regulations that prevent player injury from overpowered weapons. Shooting Distance Close range shooting is NOT allowed at Splat! We enforce minimum shooting distances, which greatly reduces the sting of being hit.  Protective Gear Putting  a layer between you and the paint makes a big difference! Our rental packages come with helmet / goggle combo as well as a camo jacket and padded vest. We also recommend that new players wear long sleeves, pants, and gloves to avoid exposing skin. Always start out with more and thicker protection that you may need, and you can shed layers as you get more comfortable with the feeling.

At Splat Action, we welcome all people aged 10 and up for paintball, as long as they have the maturity to closely follow all safety protocols and the coordination to handle equipment safely while traversing uneven outdoor terrain.(For younger kids we have gellyball - a cleaner, non-painfull option!) Paintball can be an excellent workout, but don’t worry - you don’t need to be in excellent shape to play!  As long as you pace yourself, play at your own speed, and remember to hydrate, you should be able to enjoy the game regardless of your athletic ability.

Putting a layer between you and the paint makes a big difference! Our rental packages come with helmet / goggle combo as well as a camo jacket and padded vest. While some players wear special paintball clothes like jerseys and pants, it isn’t necessary. Comfort and coverage is key, so wear clothes you can run, jump, dive and crawl around in.  Always start out with more and thicker protection that you may need, and you can shed layers as you get more comfortable with the feeling. We also recommend that new players wear long sleeves, pants, and gloves, and highly suggest shoes with good ankle support that can handle uneven terrain.  DOES IT STAIN? Paintball paint is non toxic and water soluble, and the color from high quality paintballs usually washes out if clothing is washed promptly.  However - there is a small chance that some bright colors or color from lower quality paintballs could leave a faint stain on certain materials, and more likely - your clothing can get stained from running and sliding around in the woods. Because of this, we recommend wearing older or outdoor friendly clothes that you wouldn’t be upset about damaging.

If you are brand new to paintball , don’t worry - we’ve got you! At the beginning of the game day, your referee will provide you with a full safety run down and outline the rules for each game mode. If at any time you are unsure about a safety rule, how to use your marker,  how to reload your marker (paintball gun), how to refill your C02 (the gas that powers your marker), or have questions about the rules of each play mode - don’t be shy! Ask your referee, ask for help at the check-in shack, or ask any of the more experienced players for help. BASIC PAINTBALL TERMINOLOGY Marker: The device used to fire paintballs (commonly known as a paintball gun). Hopper: A container attached to the marker that holds paintballs. Pods: Reusable, cylindrical plastic containers used to carry extra ammunition (paintballs) onto the field that feature a spring-loaded, locking, or hinge-top lid for quick, one-handed, in-game reloading into a marker's hopper. Barrel Bag/Sock: Small Bag that goes over the end of the marker for extra safety Bunker: Obstacles on the field used for cover.