What Is Low Impact Paintball? – Comprehensive Guide
In the world of paintball, there is a sub-genre known as “low impact paintball.” This variant is designed for players who want to enjoy the experience without the bruising and welts that often come with the game.
Low-impact paintball is just like regular paintball, but with some key differences. The most significant difference is that low-impact paintball uses smaller paintballs that are less likely to cause injury.
This makes the sport safer for players of all ages, and both beginners and experienced players can enjoy it.
How is Low Impact Paintball different from regular paintball?
Even though low-impact paintballs might look similar to regular paintballs, they differ in some important ways. Let’s have a look at the aspects which set apart low-impact paintball from regular paintball.
Markers
The markers used in low-impact paintball are different from regular paintball markers. Although their functionality is the same, the main difference is the size of the bore. Low-impact paintball use 0.50 caliber markers while regular paintball use 0.68 caliber markers.
The smaller caliber of low-impact paintball markers makes them less likely to cause bruising or welts. They are also less powerful and have less range as compared to regular markers.
Paintballs
Similar to the barrel bore, Low-impact paintballs are also smaller in size as compared to regular paintballs. They measure 0.50 caliber in diameter, which is significantly smaller than regular paintballs that measure 0.689 caliber in size.
The smaller size of low-impact paintballs makes them lightweight and less likely to cause injury when they hit someone. However, It also makes them less effective at long range, so the game is typically played at close quarters.
Gameplay
As we mentioned above, Low-impact paintball games are typically played on smaller fields and arenas, with fewer players per team.
It is designed for people who want to enjoy the experience of playing traditional paintball but may not be interested in the physical intensity and potential for injury that comes with it.
This makes it an ideal option for players who are new to the game, those who are getting a bit older, or those who are recovering from an injury.
Low Impact Paintball also tends to be a bit slower-paced than traditional paintball, which can make it a more enjoyable experience for new players. This also makes it a great option for groups with mixed levels of experience or fitness levels.
What are the benefits of playing Low Impact Paintball?
There are several benefits of playing low-impact paintball over traditional paintball. By now, you might have guessed most of them. let’s go through them in detail.
1. Less Pain
This is the most obvious benefit of playing Low Impact Paintball. As the name suggests, Low-impact paintballs are less likely to cause bruising or welts when they hit you. This makes it a great option for players who want to avoid the pain that comes with traditional paintball.
A regular paintball weighs around 3.2 grams and carries kinetic energy of ~13 joules whereas, a low-impact paintball weighs around 1.21 grams and carries kinetic energy of ~5.1 joules. Thanks to this significant reduction in kinetic energy, a low-impact paintball won’t hurt half as much as a traditional paintball.
2. Safe for Kids
Low-impact paintball is a great option for families with young children to enjoy this sport together. The smaller, lighter paintballs are less likely to hurt on impact, making them a safe option for kids.
The minimum recommended age for low-impact paintball is 7yo. On the other hand, it is 10yo for regular paintball. It’s also a great way to introduce kids to the sport of paintball and help them develop coordination and teamwork.
3. Cost Friendly
Low-impact paintballs are typically cheaper than regular paintballs. This is because they are smaller in size and require less Paint to fill them. In addition, Low-impact markers tend to be less expensive than traditional markers.
This makes Low Impact Paintball a great option for people who want to try out the sport without spending a lot of money.
What are the disadvantages of Low Impact Paintball?
There are a few disadvantages of Low-impact paintball that you should be aware of before you decide to play.
First, Low-impact paintballs are less accurate than regular paintballs. This is because they are lighter and have less kinetic energy. This can make it more difficult to hit your target, especially at long ranges.
In addition, Low-impact paintballs tend to crack and deform more easily than regular paintballs due to their softer shells and small size.
Finally, Low-impact paintballs are not as effective at splattering as regular paintballs. This is because they have less fill. As a result, Low-impact paintballs may not leave as much paint on your target as regular paintball
Conclusion
To sum it up, Low-impact paintball is a great option for players who want to enjoy the sport of paintball without the pain and intensity that comes with it. It is also a great option for families with young children.
However, Low-impact paintballs are less accurate than regular paintballs and may not splatter as much. In addition, Low-impact markers tend to be less expensive than traditional markers.
Low Impact Paintball is the way to go if you’re looking for a safe, fun, and cost-friendly way to play paintball!
Happy Paintballing!
