Paintball is a game where you shoot each other with paint-filled balls. It is often described as a military simulation game that is meant to give players the opportunity to express their creativity without risking any injury or loss of life. However, one of the main concerns that beginners have is how bad do paintballs hurt.
Paintball hurts, but it is not as bad as you may think. The first time a paintball hits your skin, you feel the sting and might cringe. Over time, the pain takes on a different character. It starts out intense but will eventually fade away into a throbbing and burning sensation.
How Much Does Paintball Hurt?
Paintball is a thrilling game that people of all ages can enjoy. In addition to breaking out your aggression, it’s also a great way to have fun with friends.
Paintballs do not hurt as much as bullets do. They are made from gelatin capsules filled with water-based dye and compressed air that travels at speeds of up to 300 feet per second (fps). The balls travel at such high velocities because they are shot out of a compressed air gun that uses nitrogen instead of CO2 gas. This means that if you get hit by one of these balls, it will hurt but won’t cause serious injuries or death unless you’re allergic to certain dyes used in making these pellets.
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While the dye used in paintballs isn’t harmful, it can cause temporary irritation in sensitive areas like the eyes or nose. If you’re concerned about this happening to you during play, make sure to wear goggles or protective eyewear when playing paintball games.
Factors That Determine How Much Paintballs Hurt
There are a number of factors that determine how much paintballs hurt. These include the paintball type, the paintball’s size, the velocity at which it travels, and what part of the body it hits.
Types of Paintballs
There can be a big difference in quality depending on what paintball you use. For example, standard paintballs are made of gelatin and are about .68 inches in diameter. They hurt because they’re hard enough to break through the skin but not so hard that they do serious damage to your body. If the paintball hits something like bone or cartilage, it will usually ricochet off and cause less pain than if it had hit muscle tissue or soft tissue.
Size of the Paintball
The size of the paintball determines how much it hurts when it hits you. If you’re shooting at someone who’s close by, then the impact will be greater than if they’re farther away. The smaller the ball, the more painful it will be when it hits your skin because there’s less surface area for friction to slow down its speed when it hits your body.
Velocity
The ball’s velocity travels is another important factor that determines how much pain you feel from it hitting you. A faster-moving ball will cause more damage than one travelling at lower speeds because its energy increases with velocity.
Location
The location where you get hit with a paintball can also determine how much it hurts. If you get hit in an area where there is very little muscle or fat, like your hand, then the pain will be less than if you had been hit in an area with thick muscle or fat, like your thigh or buttock. Areas with thicker flesh tend to feel less pain because there is more cushion between your nerves, muscles, and bones.
Distance
How far away you are when a paintball hits you can also affect how much it hurts. If the ball hits you on the first shot and there are no other players between yourself and the shooter, it will hurt more than if another player was standing with their body as a shield between you and the shooter.
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Ways to Reduce the Pain of Getting Shot with a Paintball
Here are some tips on preparing your body for paintball and how to dress for it properly to minimize the pain.
1. Wear Clothing with Padding
Paintballs aren’t particularly strong, about 200 psi, so they won’t kill you if one hits your body at high speed. However, they will bruise and bleed, so it’s important to wear clothing that doesn’t allow the balls to penetrate easily.
2. Wear Thick Gloves
You can also wear gloves to protect your hands from splinters and other injuries caused by broken wood or plastic pellets in the paintballs.
3. Wear Goggles or Glasses
Another option is to wear goggles or glasses with a special coating that prevents the paint from getting inside them, making it easier for you to see where your opponent is hiding while also protecting your eyes from splinters inside the paintballs.
4. Protect Your Head
Paintballs can easily bounce off your head and cause injury if they hit hard enough. To protect against this, wear a full-face mask with padding that covers your ears and cheeks. This will prevent paintballs from bouncing off your head and simultaneously hitting other areas of your body.
Final Words
It’s important (and instructive) to note that paintball can be played without pain. No one has to get hurt playing paintball as long as you use the right gear. We put together this guide to paintball guns and safety equipment to help beginners make informed decisions. Our goal is to provide you with all the information you need before you step out onto the field.
FAQs
You’ll first notice a loud bang, followed by a sharp sting. The pain will last for about 15 seconds, and then it’s over. If you’re hit in the eye or other sensitive area, it can take longer for the pain to subside.
Yes! Paintballs are made up of gelatin capsules filled with colored liquid dyes. The dyes are released when the capsule breaks, causing an explosion of color on your clothing or skin.
There are several ways to make paintballs less painful; wear protective gear, including goggles and gloves. This will help keep your eyes safe from splashes of dye as well as prevent injuries from broken glass or metal shards in the paintball shell (if you’re using professional-grade equipment).
The most common places for paintball injuries are the face, chest, arms, and legs. The face is particularly sensitive because it contains many small blood vessels close to the skin’s surface that can burst very easily when hit by a ball traveling at 300 feet per second (about 200 miles per hour). A direct hit anywhere else on the body is usually less painful but more likely to result in bruising or swelling than bleeding.
In his impressive career, John M. Anderson has played alongside the best players in the world and earned the respect of many top competitors. His skill, versatility, and timing have helped him become one of the top players in the paintball world. He is a true pro who will likely be remembered as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. His impact goes beyond the field as well. He has become a spokesperson for the sport, sharing interesting stories and facts from the past, and he also regularly contributes to this blog to help and guide new players in the world of paintball.