A shockingly safe sport that has recently emerged into the mainstream world of sport activities is paintball. Paintball, as a sport, started in the 1970s. The sport consists of the participants using paintball guns, commonly called markers, to shoot small balls filled with paint at other participants. The idea of shooting paintballs was first used by forestry workers to mark trees and cattlemen to mark cattle.

The markers, or paintball guns, are powered by using compressed gas, most often used is CO2. Markers range in price from around $20 to over $1,000. There are somewhere between two and three dozen paintball marker brands. Paintball markers come in semi automatic, burst, automatic and pump action.

The ammunition used for paintball is paintballs. They are very literally balls made of paint. The paint used to create the balls is non-toxic, washable and made from food grade materials. They are made with ingredients similar to those used in the making of gummy candies, such as gummy bears or gummy worms. The more liquid paint on the inside is encapsulated in a paint shell made from the same ingredients. There are many paintballs of differing quality and colors. Paintballs for different seasons are available, as well.

There is a huge variety in the types of games played by paintballers. The types of play are only limited by the imagination of the players. However, there are some standard paintball games and scenarios that are common among participants of the sport. Most games are played by two opposing teams of players. Some common types of team games are Capture the Flag, Elimination and “King of the Hill”.

Woodsball often uses games such as Capture the Flag or Elimination in a wooded area with bunkers of various types and materials. Speedball is the type of game format most often used for tournament in paintball. Speedball requires a flat, treeless terrain where artificial obstacles are set up for bunkers.

A great deal of paintball clothing and paintball equipment is available today. Some such equipment includes helmets, goggles, paintball markers, paintballs, hoppers and CO2 tanks. Additionally, there are a number of available supplies for cleaning, repairing and maintaining your paintball gun. Paintball clothing is padded in specific locations that are most susceptible to targeting or most used in crawling or crouching. Clothing includes everything from shirts and pants to shoes and knee and elbow pads. Headgear to wear underneath your helmet is also available and can be used as added protection.

Eye Protection: Glasses, Spectacles & Goggles shield eyes from impact hazards such as flying fragments, objects, large chips, and particles.

Safety Clothing: Wear the correct Personal Protective Clothing to keep you both comfortable and safe. Ear Defenders and Ear Muffs are used to protect your ears from loud noise and there are many head protection products to choose from such as ear plugs, ear tracers or ear defenders.