Origin and History of Paintball

Do you want to know the history of paintball because it has become your favorite recently?

The origin of paintball is open to debate; it has been suggested that paintball history dates back to the 1960s using air guns to shoot at targets for training police and military recruits. But using targets with paint to mark hits was only first mentioned by Bob Gurnsey in 1981.

Paintball is being played on indoor or outdoor fields of varying sizes depending upon the number of players. A game field is sprinkled with natural or unnatural terrain, which participants use for tactical cover. Recently it has become more popular among younger people, and its popularity is increasing with every passing year.

When was paintball invented- timeline of its history

Paintball has been around since the 1970s, but it was not until the 1980s that paintball started to become more popular, and more people began to play. Throughout the late 1990s, the game evolved in its techniques, rules, and popularity. More and more people were fascinated by the game and its outcomes.

Who invented this formal version of paintball?

The first ever organized paintball game took place on June 4, 1981, between Bob Gurnsey and Mark Deezer in the woods of New Hampshire. It was only a one-on-one game (which Gurnsey won), but it was the start of what is now considered one of the most popular sports in the world.

The first paintball gun was built from the barrel of a .22 caliber rifle, with a broomstick handle attached to it.

Paintball history - Origin and History of Paintball strat from1960's

Paintball has become so popular that there are several professional leagues that play competitive games against each other during the year. Many cities have local teams that compete against each other at various fields around town. It’s also possible to play recreationally with friends or family if you don’t want to get involved with organized leagues or competitions.

Fun Facts:

1970s – Paintball markers were first developed in the 1970s for forest workers in New Hampshire to mark trees and wildlife.

1983 – First commercial field opens in New Hampshire, USA.

1983 – First National Survival Game (NSG) championship was held, with a $14,000 cash award for the winning team.

1989 – The First British Paintball League was created in 1989 by Gary Morhall, Richard Hart and Derek Wildermuth in Essex England.

As of official website, from 2017, the major paintball leagues in the USA are the National X-ball League (NXL), Carolina Field Owners Association (CFOA), Maximum Velocity Paintball Series (MVPS), the Northern Xtreme Paintball League (NXPL).

According to an estimation, over a million people play this sport during summers in the USA.

There are different sorts of paintball that you can play. The greatly popular types of paintball game are woodsball, speedball, and Capture the Flag (CTF).

Popular Game Formats Over the Years

In woodsball, players use woods and other natural covers as their playing field. The objective of woodsball is to complete a specific task such as capturing the flag or eliminating all of the other players on your opposing team. Another popular type of paintball game is speedball.

Speedball can have any of these objectives, either capturing the flag or eliminating all of your opposing team members. Speedball uses inflatable bunkers as cover for players and the playing field is usually made from astroturf or other artificial grass-like material. So that there are no obstacles on the ground that players could trip over or get caught up in.

Paintball History Facts About Equipment

Paintball history facts about the equipment used to play have been quite interesting. This game has improved and evolved with time after getting popular in public and the masses.

The original equipment for paintball was crude and prone to malfunction. But over the years, it has been improved and transformed into a reliable recreational device for the general public. The use of such equipment in simulated combat eventually evolved into the popular combat sport that exists today. Other than just for entertainment, it has been used as a drill for other objectives.

  • Paintball technology is also used by armed corps for training goals, as well as police and security organizations to supplement military or further training.
  • Paintball markers can also be used for marking trees and livestock.

Paintball history of Injuries

Injury rates from paintball have dropped dramatically since the late 1990s as safety measures have improved and protective gear requirements have increased. While there have been some well-publicized injuries resulting from paintball, most of the injuries were reported due to a lack of following safety measures.

What are the rules of paintball?

Rules for playing paintball vary widely. In fact rules for each game format have evolved over the time, and now we have more governed and improved rules and regulations for each game format.

Here are some of the essential existing rules of paintball.

1. Read all safety rules and listen to the referee’s instructions before each game. Field Paint Only means that only paint purchased at the field can be used on the field. This assures quality control, prevents damage to your gun, and reduces bruising.

2. Masks must be worn at all times when on the field or in the staging area — even if only walking through on your way to or from the restroom or parking lot.

3. All guns must be disabled with barrel covers when not on the field or firing range. Barrel covers (sometimes called barrel bags) are provided by your local field and must cover both ends of your barrel at all times except when you are actually shooting at an opponent on a designated playfield or firing range. You may remove your barrel cover when stepping onto either of these areas as long as there is a referee present.

paintball history- learning about tactics of paintball game.

Paintball – Learning the Tactics of Survival Game

Paintball has a very rich but short history of its upheaval. And keeping in view the rules, origin, and history of this survival game, it is evident that it teaches and tests the survival abilities of a person.

Seeing its popularity in the masses of people, I’m sure the number of people playing paintball would double during the coming years. So if you have a little interest in learning how to play paintball to always win, stay connected with me.

Harold Willoughby

Author: Harold Willoughby

I am a paintball enthusiast and a pro with over 12 years of professional experience in the paintball battleground. I have now dedicated my life towards training people in professional paintball competitions and tournaments.