30 Must-Know Paintball Terms, Phrases and Slang

Lock and load, paintball warriors!

Before you dash into the fray, gear up with the ultimate arsenal of terms, phrases, and slang that’ll transform you from a newbie to a paintball legend.

Ready to dominate the battlefield and talk the talk?

Dive into these top 30 expressions and let the paint fly!

Must-Know Paintball Terms, Phrases and Slang:

1. Bunker
2. Chrono
3. Dead box
4. Elimination
5. Flag station
6. Goggles
7. Hopper
8. Marker
9. Paint check
10. Rampage
11. Sniper
12. Surrender
13. Tippmann
14. Walk-on
15. X-ball
16. Airball
17. Barrel plug
18. Breakout
19. Camouflage
20. Dorito
21. Flank
22. Gilly suit
23. Mercy rule
24. Pod
25. Ramp
26. Reload
27. Splat
28. Suppression fire
29. Tournament
30. Woodsball

#1 Bunker

A field obstacle that players use for cover during the game, ranging from natural terrain to manmade structures. Bunkers are strategic spots that can provide significant advantages or disadvantages in play.

#2 Chrono

Short for “chronograph,” which is a device used to measure the velocity of a paintball as it leaves the barrel. Players must chrono their markers to ensure shots are within safe speed limits, typically under 300 feet per second.

#3 Dead Box

An area designated for eliminated players to wait after they have been tagged out of the game. The dead box helps prevent confusion and accidental re-entry into active play.

#4 Elimination

Occurs when a player is struck by a paintball that leaves a solid mark, thus removing them from the current round. Eliminations are how teams gain an advantage and ultimately win the game.

#5 Flag Station

The starting point for each team in a capture the flag style of paintball game. The objective is to retrieve the opposing team’s flag from their station and return it to your own.

#6 Goggles

Mandatory safety equipment designed to protect the eyes and face during play. Paintball goggles are impact-resistant and should never be removed during a game for safety reasons.

#7 Hopper

A container that attaches to the top of a paintball marker and holds multiple paintballs, feeding them into the gun for firing. Hoppers come in various designs, impacting loading speed and capacity.

#8 Marker

In paintball, a “marker” is the term used for the paintball gun. It is the device used to shoot paintballs at opponents. The technology can vary widely, from simple mechanical markers to sophisticated electronic ones that offer rapid fire and other enhanced features.

#9 Paint Check

A request for an official to verify if a player has been hit by paint, which would confirm elimination from the round. Essential for maintaining fair play and confirming hits that may not be felt by the player.

#10 Rampage

A mode available on some electronic markers allowing a higher rate of fire after several rapid shots. It’s controversial as it can offer a competitive edge by maintaining a consistent high rate of fire.

#11 Sniper

A player who specializes in long-distance shots, often using a marker with a longer barrel for accuracy. They excel in stealth and precision, aiming to pick off opponents from a distance without being detected.

#12 Surrender

A safety rule allowing a player to offer an opponent the chance to surrender before being shot at close range. It’s a courtesy to prevent injury and promote sportsmanship in tense close-quarters encounters.

#13 Tippmann

A well-known manufacturer of paintball markers and equipment renowned for their durability and reliability. A favorite among beginners and advanced players for their quality and performance.

#14 Walk-on

A player who shows up to play without being part of a pre-arranged group or event. Walk-ons can join open sessions and are often mixed with other solo players to form teams.

#15 X-ball

X-ball is a competitive, fast-paced format of paintball that is played on a symmetrical field with inflatable bunkers. It is known for its short, intense games and a format that involves multiple points (similar to rounds) where teams try to capture the opposing team’s flag while defending their own.

#16 Airball

Airball refers to a style of paintball game played on fields with temporary, inflatable bunkers. These bunkers can be quickly set up and reconfigured for different game types, making it popular for tournaments and competitive play. Airball games are fast and require good team tactics due to the lack of permanent cover.

#17 Barrel plug

A safety device inserted into the paintball marker’s barrel when not in play to prevent accidental discharge of paintballs. This small piece is crucial for ensuring that no one gets hurt by unintended shots.

#18 Breakout

The initial move or strategy a team employs as a game begins, where players rush to advantageous positions on the field. It’s a critical moment in setting the tone and potential success for the round.

#19 Camouflage

The clothing and gear designed with patterns that blend into the playing environment, making players less visible to opponents. In woodsball, well-designed camouflage can give a significant tactical advantage.

#20 Dorito

A term used to describe an inflatable bunker shaped like a triangle or the snack chip it’s named after. Doritos are strategically used on the field for cover and maneuvering during games.

#21 Flank

A tactical move involving players going around the sides of the field to attack opponents from the side or behind. Flanking can catch the enemy off guard and change the game’s dynamic.

#22 Gilly suit

A specialized suit designed to mimic the heavy foliage of a natural environment, making a player almost invisible in woodsball scenarios. It’s a favorite gear choice among snipers and stealth players.

#23 Mercy rule

A rule applied in some paintball games or tournaments that ends the game once a team has an insurmountable lead. It’s meant to promote sportsmanship by preventing unnecessary humiliation.

#24 Pod

A portable container used to carry extra paintballs during a game. Players use pods to reload their hoppers in the field quickly, ensuring they have ample ammunition for sustained play or intense firefights.

#25 Ramp

A firing mode on electronic markers that increases the rate of fire after the trigger is pulled a number of times in succession. Ramp mode allows players to maintain a high rate of fire with less trigger effort, often used in competitive scenarios.

#26 Reload

The action of replenishing a paintball gun’s hopper or magazine with more paintballs. A quick reload is crucial in the heat of battle, allowing players to keep their markers ready and avoid being caught empty-handed.

#27 Splat

The mark left by a paintball after it breaks upon hitting a player or an object. The splat serves as visual confirmation of a hit, and in many game formats, it is used to determine a player’s elimination.

#28 Suppression fire

A tactic where a player shoots continuously towards an opponent’s position to keep them pinned down. Suppression fire is used to restrict an enemy’s movement, provide cover for teammates, or gain a strategic advantage.

#29 Tournament

An organized competitive event where teams or individual players compete in various paintball games. Tournaments often have specific rules and formats and can range from local club matches to international professional championships.

#30 Woodsball

Woodsball is a format of paintball that is played in natural outdoor settings such as wooded areas, which provide natural terrain and obstacles. It often involves larger areas and longer game times compared to other types of paintball. Woodsball games can include a variety of scenarios and strategies that mimic military operations or capture-the-flag style objectives.

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