Do you have what it takes to be a good paintball sniper?

There’s a big difference between being a good paintball player and being a good paintball sniper. Paintball snipers can either make or break a team, and trying to play the role of sniper without adequately preparing yourself is foolhardy at best. To be a good paintball sniper you need certain personality traits, the right physical skills, the right equipment (including a paintball sniper gun), and the proper know-how. Correctly incorporating these four elements will not only help you become a great sniper, but a great paintball player in general.

Personality Traits The first element of becoming a successful paintball sniper is mastering certain personality traits, such as patience, self-confidence, and the ability to be alone for long periods during the game. Patience is very important because as a sniper, you will need to be able to wait for the best shot to present itself to you. Snipers that take the first shot that comes their way often run the risk of exposing their location and making themselves vulnerable to attack.

Self-confidence is another extremely important part of becoming a paintball sniper. The right shot comes along only every so often, and if you don’t have the confidence to take the shot in the split-second moment that it presents itself to you, you probably won’t make for a very good sniper. Hesitation and second-guessing oneself have no place in the mind of a paintball sniper.

The final personality trait you must master to become a great paintball sniper is the ability to be alone for long periods of time. The master sniper is a loner, cutting himself off from the fun and camaraderie of team play for the chance to help his teammates win. It’s a noble but lonely role, and if you aren’t comfortable with being by yourself you may find that you can’t resist the urge to get onto the field and be a more active part of the team.

Physical Skills Of course, any good paintball sniper must be a good shot. Practice long-distance shooting as much as you can, as this skill is the paintball sniper’s bread and butter. You will also need to be able to accurately follow a target with your gun and fire quickly and smoothly as soon as the target stops.

Aside from shooting ability, there are a number of other physical skills that can assist you as a paintball sniper. The ability to stay alert in a crouched or sitting position for a long period of time is essential. Try practicing some flexibility exercises, such as basic stretching or yoga, before each game.

Even if you are a great sniper, there will probably come a time when you will be spotted and need to escape. This will require lightning-fast reflexes. Practice sitting down and standing up over and over until your muscles get used to the motion. You’re no good to your team if you can’t escape an approaching enemy.

Equipment The right equipment is very important for a paintball sniper. If you don’t have the right marker, scope, or camouflage outfit you might as well not even bother. The industry standard for markers restricts the speed of paintballs exiting the barrel at 300 feet per second, which means most guns are very similar to each other. However, you can buy marker enhancement equipment such as tactical red dot sights and barrel mounts. These accessories turn your ordinary marker into a true sniper paintball gun — a sniper’s dream weapon.

Scopes are probably the best accessory you can get for your paintball sniper gun. A high-powered magnification scope or eyepiece will allow you to take down targets at greater distances, but be careful – having your face buried in a scope makes you vulnerable to closer sneak attacks.

Clothing is another important factor to consider in choosing paintball gear. Wearing camouflage head wraps, coveralls or jackets helps you go unseen, an invaluable asset for any sniper. If you are a die-hard player, or are playing in a cold area, you can purchase camouflage gloves and winter coats.

Aside from these three important elements, you must also maintain good communication with your teammates. Knowing where your teammates are during the game will help you determine the best course of action should an enemy approach. And remember, a lot of responsibility comes with the role of sniper. Be patient, train properly, and arm yourself with the right paintball gear and you will do just fine.