Woodsball Paintball Games

Woodsball is a form of a paintball game, though less well-known type of paintball, its how paintball began. It started out being played in the woods and that’s how it got its name. Currently, woodsball refers to paintball played in a variety of outdoor settings. The gear, games, tactics, and safety are similar to paintball on any outdoor or indoor field. What is different about playing woodsball is that the type of fields that it’s played on. It’s simple to retrain yourself and acquire the skills needed to play woodsball.

The differences with woodsball and common paintball (like speedball):

• Outdoors with no way to observe the entire field (like at an indoor field that has an observation walkway, where you can look down and see the entire area).
• There are no aerial maps to study. Woodsball is often played out in the open and not on established paintball fields.
• Played in natural settings with natural boundaries or no boundaries at all.
• Long-playing times due to larger playing field.
• Heavily dependent on strategy and maneuvering.
• Accurate shooting skills.
• Slow rate of fire.

Weather is a factor with woodsball. Even if you are tough and can withstand the heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind to play woodsball, some conditions are not compatible with playing. Cold weather will affect the effectiveness of CO2 because the gas will not expand properly with lower temperatures. Heavy rain can wash away evidence of a shot during woodsball games.

For those who are use to other forms of paintball, it’s easy to tactic train for the differences in the original paintball game, woodsball. First go out to the open area you are considering playing on. Are there natural barriers? Would you need to create barriers so not be a danger to surrounding areas? Is there natural cover? Once you have a location that will work, pick a simple game like capture the flag. Play the game in “dry run” mode-no paintballs and no running, to get the feel of the differences in field play. Discuss with teammates the differences. When you think you know the changes you need to make walk through with loaded guns and shooting. Next play the game normally. When possible have someone experienced in woodsball play with you and give pointers.

Each form of paintballing has its individual challenges. Try each one out to find what best fits you. You may find its woodsball or you may choose to stick with speedball. Whatever type of paintball player you are, there is a type of paintball for you.