Dynasty Wanna Be...

If you know anything about the pro teams of speedball (aka airball or xball), you are familiar with the team, Dynasty. For the skilled competitive paintball player, it may be an attainable goal to join the pro team, Dynasty. For the majority of speedball players, they will just be a Dynasty wanna be. To be a “wanna be” may be a negative label in some circles, in speedball, that is not the case. Players who may not have the skills or opportunities to become a member of Dynasty, can still use the same paintball tactics that their members use to dominate their opponents. Wanting to be like them is a good thing.

Todd Martinez (Dynasty team member) believes to shoot like the pros of Dynasty; it is about perfecting the fundamental skills. In a video that Martinez does, he goes over the following tactics:

1. Mindset (yes…this is a tactic!)
2. Knowing Your Position
3. Shooting off the break
4. Snap shooting
5. Shooting on the move

It isn’t enough to know what these tactics are to be able to shoot like a pro, it is necessary to perfect each of the skills needed for each tactic. It is combining these tactics that makes for great competitive shooting like you see when you watch the pro team Dynasty competing and winning.

The Mind Game

You will need to prepare mentally to be successful at using the skills and tactics that you learn to win at competitive speedball games like the pro team, Dynasty. This can be done with your mindset. You need to be mentally prepared and focused when you start the game. This preparation will begin before the match.

Walk the field with confidence while visualizing yourself perfectly executing the moves, the shots, the maneuvers, and the tactics that you have been practicing. Trust yourself that you will do what you need to so that you contribute to the team winning the competition.

Knowing Your Position

• Front-player
  Assigned to advance to the furthest part of the field off the break, this player will typically advance to his/her own 40 or 50. This can include the snake. Normally this player will be using snap shooting the most and will eliminate the most opposing players.
• Mid-player
  Assigned to the bunkers between the back and front players, this player relays the back-players commands to the front-player. Also he/she can have the role of being the "insert" which means if a key player on the team is eliminated he/she will replace the eliminated player’s position.
• Back-player
  Assigned to the closest bunkers to the starting point, this player will mainly be laning the sweet spots at the opposing flag area. After the start off, this player will be the eyes for the team communication to the mid-player on the positions of the opposing team.

Shooting Off The Break

Take out the easy targets first by shooting accurately off the break is a successful tactic. Practice the sweet spot drill. For this one, you will take your stance, turn, run, and accurately shoot your lane. The tactic is useless without accurate shooting skills. Practice this one with your hand on both sides of the gun; so no matter which way you need to run, you have the skill to take out the opponents that you aim at.

Snap Shooting

When practicing this speedball tactic, vary the drills by using every obstacle, both hands, and different distances while snap shooting. Be sure you can easily maintain balance while shooting accurately. It is the slow repetition of the drills and taking the time to position properly will develop the skills needed to win. As the skills are mastered, speed can be added.

Shooting On The Move

There will be occasional rare times when you will be standing still and have the time to take the shot. Mostly the shot will need to be made while running, jumping, crouched walking, or lunging. It doesn’t matter what the movement is, what matters is that you can make the shot accurately while moving and you can do it with either hand. This tactic takes lots of practice.

The tactics used by the pro team, Dynasty, are all based on fundamental skills that any pro competitor “wanna be” can master.