Since I started writing this bi-weekly article on the sport of paintball I have gotten mostly positive feedback and I am pleased.  I have also got a lot of questions on the sport and those I am pleased to answer.  However, the one common question everyone asks is: When you get hit by a paintball, does it hurt?

Answer: Oh hell yeah!  It hurts.  It's uncomfortable.  But its not a pain that cannot be tolerated.  Plus, it depends where you get shot.  A paintball is a sphere of liquid or gel paint in a thin, protective, biodegradable coating, exactly like those oil balls you put in your bath to make your skin softer only much tougher and won't melt away in water so easily.  Getting shot in the arm and leg will hurt.  Shot in the upper body on the chest and back, of course it will hurt.  Shot in the neck or groin, you're going down, but those shots are one in a million.  As long as you wear groin protection and a good safety mask while playing, you are near worry free.

Different people handle pain in different ways.  I consider myself pain tolerant; I can take a beating and keep on competing.  Others can't handle pain that well.  When I get hit by a paintball, it can be compared to a wet towel being whipped across your rear end.  There is a quick stinging pain but in a few moments it will lessen.  Usually you will be so upset you got shot or the adrenaline will be running through you so fast, you will hardly notice it.  It really isn't all that bad.  Getting a tongue piercing or a tattoo is far worse and trust me, I have been inked and that is worse than paintball shots.

If you really are fearful of the pain and believe it will affect the way you play, then maybe paintball isn't for you.  People who fear getting hit really make the game a little less fun.  These types of people won't make plays, will freeze up and really let their team down.  Paintball is a team sport.  Yeah, your skills are important but the team is golden.  As for the pain, why fear pain when you can defeat it?  Paintball is awesome.  I will take a game of paintball over football or basketball anyday.  If you are not playing just because you fear a little sting, then you are missing out on an incredible experience.  Get out there!

Next Time on the Nation:  I recently sat down and watched the new movie "8 Mile" starring Eminem.  While I won't give my opinion on this movie and I will leave that to the Ritz section, I must say I got kinda angry when I watched a part where ole Slim Shady took out a paintball gun and shot at passing cars and a police vehicle.  The sport of paintball is already full of sterotypes, especially the one where paintball is "full of vandals and punk kids."  I would like to talk about this whole deal and how the media sees us ballers next article.  This "8 Mile" crap doesn't help out either. See you again soon.

Paintball Links
www.jtusa.com
www.tippman.com
www.expresspaintball.com
www.actionpursuitgames.com
www.brasseagle.com
www.ronin-gear.com
www.ravenusa.com
www.paintballgear.com