Paintball is one of the fastest growing sports in the WORLD! More then 800,000 people are playing paintball for the first time each year. With numbers like that it is no wonder why paintball related items are such hot sellers on EBay.

My goal is to help parents and first time paintballers pick out a marker (a marker is the politically correct term for a paintball gun) it is less offensive and it helps parents cope better with the idea of buying a tool that will project an object at over 300 feet per second. Yep that is about the speed many of the paintabll markers today will reach- and at that speed even a grape will put your eye out.

So rule number one to parenst and newbie's (newbie's are first time players) ALWAYS WEAR APPROVED SAFETY GEAR- these are the paintball masks readily found on EBAY as well as Wal-Mart and almost any sporting goods store with a darn. Parents do not let little Johnny play with his marker without the safety goggles!!!! Not even target practice by himself!

There are several markers on the market today ranging in price from $19.99 all the way up to $4,000.00; depending on what you want to do with this marker you have many options. Bascially it breaks down into two categories: 1. Woodsball or Senario Ball- this is where you go out in the woods or a field and play capture the flag it simulates combat situations hence the name scenario ball. The other is Speed ball. Speed ball is played in a court with refs; it competes teams ranging from 3- 10 man teams against each other in a very fast game of dodge ball. Speed ball is also called Tournament Ball. These guys wear bright colors get sponsors and shoot the heck out of each other for a trophy, very competitive and fast paced, not recommended for first timers.

Scenario or woods ball also has refs at retail fields but it can be played by just organizing a bunch of friends in a secure wooded area. The markers that are available for each type of play are similar but they lean in different ways depending on the style of play you prefer.

Tournament/Speedball players tend to lean toward fast shooting single action markers. They are brightly colored and look like ray guns from Buck Rogers. Familiar names like Autococker, Dye, Spyder, Kingman, just to name a few, these markers are beautiful and can take a beating.

Scenario/woodsballers lean toward the realistic looking military type markers namely Tippmann, rap4, and a few others. these markers usually shoot further, and are a bit more tolerable of abuse. These are the markers that are a good fit for a beginner. 

Recommend markers for newbie's are Tippmanns. these markers have fewer moving parts, offer an incredible warranty and customer service department and back up every marker the make. The markers them selves will shoot all and any paintball you use including the cheap stuff that has a tendency to fall apart, and the best thing about them is you can add all the clip ons, ad ons, and custom parts you want.

Want to make someone happy buy them a paintball marker they can drop, never clean, and still play every time they go to the field then buy them a Tippmann. Or buy them a marker they can take apart easily and maintain it them selves.

Good Luck and feel free to contact me through my ebay ID at pbgimmics