“Does paintball hurt?” is the most frequently asked question by newcomers to the sport. There are other variables to consider, but the short answer is that it can in some circumstances. The discomfort might range from a minor sting to an insect bite-like sensation.
Pain levels vary from person to person, therefore it’s impossible to estimate how much paintball actually hurts. As long as you take reasonable care and follow the guidelines, the worst harm you’re likely to suffer is a bruise or welt.
What Does Being Hit By A Paintball Feel Like?
If you get far enough away from the shooter, the paintball may not even break. On the other hand, if you are out in the open and playing on a speedball course, your opponents will be shooting between 270 and 280 fps, and you will almost certainly be facing more than ten balls per second.
There is no regulation against firing from close range in competitive paintball, therefore more severe pain or injuries are conceivable. Bleeding welts are not uncommon, and being shot in the head numerous times at close range can cause minor concussions.
Both of these scenarios are more likely to have negative consequences. In most recreational contexts, however, this is not too big of a deal as this is for professional speedball games. You don’t have to be as concerned about getting injured when playing woodsball or in a private group that is more lowkey.
Does Paintball Hurt More Than A Tattoo?
Getting hit by a paintball can be painful – it will surely sting a little, especially if the paintball is fired at close range. In the best-case scenario, you’ll get a fair bruise, but paintball injuries don’t frequently result in excruciating welts that last for weeks.
When it comes to tattoos, your adrenaline ultimately kicks in and dulls the pain to the point where it’s no longer painful. And, unlike paintball, where you could get hit at any time, anyplace, increasing your anxiety, this is a constant feeling.
Which Hurts More – Paintball Or Airsoft?
Paintballs are substantially larger than airsoft bbs, measuring about. 68” in diameter and weighing around 3 grams on average. Paintball guns typically shoot at around 280-300 fps, which is much slower than the velocity of airsoft pellets, due to their bigger size and heavier weight.
The energy of a paintball is more than 10 times that of airsoft bbs. Airsoft guns typically fire at a rate of 400 feet per second. The surface area of a paintball is larger than that of a 6mm BB. All of this means that paintballs will be a lot more painful.
Manufacturers have started promoting 0.50′′ paintballs as an alternative – the smaller paintball hurts a lot less than the normal 0.68′′ paintball since it has a lower mass and therefore carry less energy. They are, however, not quite as popular.
Regardless of gun power, full facial protection is still suggested playing both airsoft and paintball.
What Factors Make Paintball Hurt?
Paintball Quality
The quality of the paintball can have a big impact on how painful the shot is. Paintballs of lower quality have a less thick paint and a tougher gelatin shell. High-quality paintballs are designed not to break in the gun, but to break quickly when you are hit. As a result, lower-quality paintballs often cause more pain on impact than higher-quality paintballs. Make sure you get the highest quality paintballs you can afford based on your budget.
Paintball Type
Instead of being round paintballs, First Strike Paintball Rounds resemble tiny missiles. They fly farther because they are more aerodynamic, which means they travel quicker over a given distance than a regular paintball round. Because of the increased average speed and solid shell, these rounds hurt more than regular pellets — to the point where many venues have prohibited them.
Temperature
If it’s particularly cold outside, direct hits may be more painful than usual. At lower temperatures, the paint material inside the paintball solidifies (becomes tougher).
Velocity
The more paintball is thrown at you, the more it hurts, according to simple physics. To keep everyone safe, most fields limit the velocity of paintball markers to around 280-300 fps.
Distance
The closer you are to the paintball shooter, the more painful it will be. Some of the energy is dissipated along the way when a paintball travels a longer distance to the target.
Most compressed air paintball fields require a minimum distance of 20 feet between you and the person you are shooting at or being shot at. If you’re playing at home, I strongly advise you to follow this regulation, and if you’re visiting paintball fields, make sure there’s enough room.
The paintball loses energy as it flies through the air. As a result, the further away your opponent is when they fire, the less damage you will take. Most paintball fields prohibit shooting at close range (typically within 10 feet, but this varies) since being hit by a paintball at such a close range can inflict significant pain.
Impact Point
The amount of pain depends on which bodily part gets the brunt of the blow. In general, areas with more muscle and fat (built-in padding) hurt less than areas with less muscle and fat (built-in padding), so a shot to the neck or back will hurt more than one to the front of your torso. Taking a strike to a….sensitive area…will be no stroll in the park, either!
A hit to your exposed flesh also hurts more than a hit to a covered part of your body. Long-sleeved tops are commonly worn by more experienced paintballers.
Multiple Hits
While it may not hurt much the first time you’re hit, the discomfort will build up if you’re hit in the same spot again.
How To Reduce Pain When Playing Paintball
Distance
Another strategy to lessen the discomfort of a paintball strike is to stay as far away from your opponent as possible, however, this is not always possible due to the nature of the game. The less velocity the paintball has when it hits you, the less it will hurt, so try to keep your distance!
You might expect getting hit to hurt a little more if you are too near to your opponent. If a player is hit many times at close range, the rules of your game should allow them to resign.
Protective Gear
The severity of a gunshot depends on how much protection you’re wearing. Some players also wear protection jackets, however, this may be unnecessary for you. Some fields mandate all players to wear vests, regardless of their personal preference.
On the field, you should always wear your safety gear, which should include at the very least a suitable paintball mask. You should also consider getting some form of neck protection and a helmet to protect your entire head.
Knee and shin protection (paintball pads) will minimize your pain levels if you enjoy diving and crawling under and behind obstacles throughout the game. Professional paintballers frequently wear motocross-style lightweight armor. The amount of harm and discomfort will be much less if you are completely suited up in basic paintball safety gear.
Protective Clothing
You will feel and be harmed if a paintball hits your exposed skin. If the paintball bounces instead of bursting, it often hurts more as well.
You can create a barrier between yourself and the paintball. Adding an extra layer of protective clothing is the best strategy. Putting on an extra shirt or wearing thicker pants can help a lot.
Because there isn’t much fat or muscle on your hands (at least for most people), they’re one of the most painful locations to take a hit. You can either purchase armored gloves or bring your own. Paintballers should also add extra padding to sensitive regions like their wrists, arms, and thighs.
Velocity
Guns chronoed (fps tested) too quickly are the most common cause of serious bruising. It’s critical to check that your paintball gun is calibrated to fire at a safe range of 280-300 feet per second (fps). This varies from one field to the next, so make sure you read the rules before you play.
Painkillers
One tip you might not have heard is to take an Ibuprofen-based pain reliever before going out to play; this type of medication lessens the pain associated with inflammation, which should assist with bruises.
Does Paintball Hurt Children?
Paintball is a thrilling and challenging sport for people of all ages that takes place in a safe and controlled environment. It’s appropriate for both children and adults. Younger players will be paired with players of similar ages and will be given less potent markers, allowing them to enjoy the game as much as adults without the risk and harm.
Make sure your child is old enough to play in your jurisdiction as well as on the range. Regardless of state rules, some fields may have a minimum age requirement. Regardless of what happens, make sure the child understands and respects the game’s rules.
How Dangerous Is Paintball?
Most hobbies involve some level of risk, and the prospect of getting shot adds to the thrill of paintball. It’s a relatively safe activity, with safety standards, restrictions, and protective equipment keeping injuries to a minimal. If you and your teammates take the necessary precautions, you should not suffer any long-term consequences if you are hit.
Unless there are some really unique conditions, no one will be shot to death using a paintball gun (involving deliberate bypassing of a number of precautions). A lethal or near-fatal occurrence can be avoided by taking the proper safety precautions, such as wearing a mask, being at least 18 years old, and chronographing the pistol to the recommended speed range. Having said that, several people have died from heart attacks after being shot in the chest over the years.
Surprisingly, the greater danger in paintball isn’t from getting shot – it’s from a lack of air. Compressed air and CO2 are dangerous, and some people have died as a result.
One of the following three causes is typical:
- Using the incorrect type of gas in a vehicle (e.g. filling a CO2 tank with compressed air).
- Increasing the pressure in a tank beyond its design capacity.
- Tanks are damaged by impact (e.g. snapping the regulator off the tank). A CO2 tank can become a missile as a result of this, resulting in death or serious damage.
Even though modern CO2 tanks are designed to reduce these risks, you should not remove the valve or regulator unless you are confident in your abilities. If you’re unsure, ask!
After an exhilarating day on the field, children may not pay strict attention to safety. After the game, adults who understand the method should disassemble and maintain paintball guns.
Final thoughts
It’s possible that the anticipation of being shot is worse than being shot for the first time. You know what it’s like to be struck by a paintball after the first time, and the terror of the unknown is gone. You quickly realize there isn’t much pain, so you can relax and enjoy the game while inflicting suffering rather than receiving it.
Oliver has been a paintball enthusiast since he first stepped on the field at just 11. He quickly joined clubs and teams all throughout New Hampshire! He started Paintball Hive to share his passion and knowledge with other paintball heads out there!