How we're ruining paintball

Link to Soulless Photography's video, skip to 7 :20 to see what I'm talking about
• "He Just Punched My Gu...

[@keganmullen3117]

I have a mortgage. No 15pbs paint tabs

[@SoullessPhotography]

I've never been a fan of the make paintball violent again mentality. I hope that saying doesn't trickle down to the local players that are out there playing with rentals every other weekend but I'm sure it's already happening. Having a good first couple times playing paintball really is the make or break for that kid. If that one guy at the field over shoots said kid, most of the time that kid isn't coming back. Especially in today's day and age. As for punishments for intentional over shooting and striking another player, honestly if we want to dissuade players from doing it, a 1 year ban from the league would be a start. Just something that makes a player think twice before doing it. Great video, enjoyed listening to your take on this.

[@danielnelan8698]

A 1 year ban for overshooting is insane. It’s paintball, people overshoot each other. If it’s very excessive a major penalty is fine. Striking another player takes it to another level and I’d agree with a 1 year ban at least for that kind of behavior.

[@Zinojn]

@@danielnelan8698yea any kinds of serious ban for overshooting is a bad idea. Even if everyone shot semi auto it just still happens unintentionally.

[@MachinedFace88ttv]

Its about intent, uf you over shoot during a trade off no prob., but these run throughs where they just ognore being shot, and lay paint trying to mark every guy beforr being physically pulled off has to go. ​@danielnelan8698

[@Bjmanies11_]

I actually dig this format of video. Props, keep 'em up!

[@TheRumphshaka]

I remember unlimited bps days, talk about a paint bill. Our field owner made it to where if we(the speedballers) played rec, we used a pump. Good times.

[@SVPPaintball]

14:53 completely agree. "Make paintball violent again" is really cringe. To comment on that moment in the Mutiny vs GG match, I wouldn't have characterized what Skumpf did to that Mutiny player as "just overshooting," like some people do. That shit was malicious. Skumpf was the one who SHOT HIM. So it's not like he didn't know he was out. After that, he then proceeds to shoot him AT LEAST 14 TIMES (I counted).... most of which was in his upper back/head area. It's like he was trying to give the man a concussion. It's fortunate that they called Skumpf out for that shit. I don't blame McDonald for punching Skumpf, but regardless it wasn't right. That situation could have escalated out of hand very quickly. Sportsmanship is a type of professional classiness that respects competition. This was unsportsmanlike, classless, and disrespectful all around. /rant

[@cdeppracing216]

malicious... lol

[@misfitscompany2769]

Love that you guys watch and comment on each others videos. Paint Eater, SVP, and Souless are great stewards of paintball!!

[@SeanLewisMedia]

Really enjoy your videos man! Started playing around 2005 so hearing about all the nostalgia you bring up is great!

[@SeanLewisMedia]

Make Paintball Fun Again should be full time slogan

[@bryandnarcisse]

Thank you for your awesome videos, you’ve helped me broaden my way of thinking as a tournament player

[@chucklovespaintball]

This video is 100% accurate.

[@ilnon1]

Love the format! Enjoyed the commentary. Subbed and liked! More vids pls!

[@PhyllisLiao]

You said it better than most could brother keep it up

[@williamduckworth305]

Hi old head here and ive played since 2002. I dont do speed ball any more bc basically im too old, i do play hyperball...15bps i think is a good bps for speed ball...i understand that its more expensive and a lot of u guys are young family guys and dont have the disposable income to blow through 3 cases of paint every time u sit in a back stand up and lane fools..but 15 to me is still a good max...as for dickheads pickin fights bc they get bonus balked or shot out. If you can control ur shit then dont play..the rules should be that if you put your hands on another player in anger then your out for the tournament. Keep it up and your iut for good...pb already gets a bad rap due to the whole gun factor abd making them look like pink and purple ray guns did nothing to kill the stigma. But if you watch the game and study the angles, and see what really going on in a pb game then its a really beautiful thing...its a shame it just can seem to ever truly come into its own...

[@Christian_Pierce22]

I miss the uncapped days. Shooting 20 bps lazers was awesome.

[@Bsfeeblegrind]

Super stoked for another upload! I agree with the sentiment 100% but I also feel like self-equipped player not abusing rentals and tournament players not being fucking barbaric are so far removed from each other like they are completely separate worlds. There may be some trickle down in attitude down to the recball field if we are allowing that type of bs like shooting into the nets but your point remains true.

[@ShowMeVirtual]

Awesome video! Huge agree on the issues you've pointed out. Outside of just not having enough players at small fields, I think all of these problems ultimately boil down to ego, as broad as that may be. I saw in another video they suggested shooting sports might trigger more ego than other sports because you are 'scoring kills' for your tribe in a sense, thought it was an interesting idea. But paintball definitely seems to have an ego issue. Its not to say other sports dont have trash talk, fighting, ego, etc, but like you said, it makes outsiders perceive the sport as a joke (which is tough when the audience is already small like paintball, unlike say the massive audience of NFL /NBA). I would really like to see competitive paintball, and especially pro paintball adopt the NHL mentality. They maintain such a constant professionalism in the way they interview, even when talking about losses (generally speaking of course). They seemingly just take out their problems on the ice. Curling is very similar, there's even an intermission in curling for a beer break, where competitiors would often drink together. And then it's just about the best team winning.

[@PowersPB]

My first paintball experience was a church outing at salt fork state park in Ohio. I was hooked instantly. I agree with you. It’s fine for experienced players to play with rentals BUT as good ambassadors of the game to get kids excited to play and teach them how to get better. They will always remember the cool guy on their team that helped them out and trust me, they will tell all their family and friends what a great time they had and that there were some super nice guys willing to show them the ropes. On the gut punch… it’s up to the refs to put a stop to that, it’s a tough job for sure. Refs have to not get in the way of the game and how it’s being played but also make sure things don’t get out of hand, but at the same time… being overshot happens. If you want to take it into your own hands, do it the right way. On the scoreboard.

[@BradleyLayton7]

Ever since I started traveling to shoot events I pretty much stopped hanging out at local fields. Miss getting new people hooked 😢

[@tommytuomaala9087]

I have a low pain treshold but bunkerings to the rib lasts only a few seconds and i am fit for next round. But bruice on bruice action can be on another level.

[@CharmCityPaintball]

Great video man!!!! Really well said

[@playbetterpaintball]

I know Stumpf personally and talked to him about this afterwards. The silver lining to the situation is that he's actually good friends with the guy he overshot and neither hold a grudge towards each other. In their minds, this is just something that happens when competition gets hot on the field, and the discord stays on the field. The unfortunate reality is that 99% of people who see that clip DON'T know that these 2 players actually have a healthy friendship with each other off the field, and therefore they get an impression that paintball is more violent than it really is. It can easily deter people from ever trying, it can deter rec players from ever attempting speedball, and can also put the wrong idea into a lot of spectators minds who might be seeing tournament paintball for the first time. So while it's great to know that there's no bad blood between the two players, your message is spot on: we need recognize the greater implications of thinking this behavior is ever ok on the field. If that's the way you and your friend like to play against each other on the field, save it for a 1v1 at your local field, out of the public eye. When you're on camera in front of a bunch of spectators at a big event, you're representing the sport and setting an example for thousands of others, so we need to act accordingly. Great content and thanks for taking a public stand for the right direction we need to keep the sport headed in 🤙

[@brucecook502]

Haha, I remember when we did 15 BPS back in the mid-2000s X-Ball LOL. There's nothing like getting lit up when trying to run off the field while everyone is shooting 15. Fun times 😄

[@DAILYSMAK]

Miss the good ol days 🤣

[@skidmarkzuckerberg]

I am the only player I know who limits my gun to 8bps. I play a lot of walk on speedball these days and I've yet to be disadvantaged. I played in the 2000's and remember slinging multiple cases of paint each time I played, and I had to quit playing because as a teenager because I could not afford it and my parents were not going to keep paying for it. Looking back at it, it was kinda crazy we were just all okay with 15bps simply due to how much it cost, not to mention the pain it could and did bring often. These days, I can play all day on 1.5 cases of paint shooting 8bps, sometimes less paint than that. Recently participated in a 2 man - 10 ball tournament and that was probably as much fun as I have ever had playing a tournament. It was more strategy based than just slinging lanes of paint until someone fucks up.

[@AantT290]

Preach!!!! This is so right.

[@dylancold23]

When I’m playing at my local field and I’m either pitted next to a kids birthday, I’ll let them use my setup for a point or 2. And every time it makes them so happy. And is the best feeling ever!

[@BaezLife]

I'm gonna try this

[@derekcorreia9692]

Over shooting is an issue at all levels! Refs need to call it when they see it. Make the over shooting team start down a player. Great video good job.

[@BaezLife]

Yes i miss the uncapped semi days but it is what it is. I still don't aim to hurt people i try and help the kids lol

[@paintballdad908]

I've been feeling this lately. Paintball is already violent by it's nature, and that's arguably why we love it. But there still needs to be a level of control because at the end of the day it's a sport/game. We shouldn't be looking to get seriously injured or (on the recreational level) intimidate other players out of the game.

[@b0lbi]

I miss the 15 bps days. We got lit the F up just walking off the field. It was a good time though, i feel that teamwork was even more important back then. I play pump or mech when i walk-on and let the newer people shoot my higher end guns.

[@zackzittel7683]

I’ve never been in an argument on the field. But I knocked a dude out off the field, he shot me in the throat (intentionally) in the pits while I wasn’t wearing a mask because he was all mad thinking 4 balls was overshooting. Luckily public opinion was on my side.

[@tdotvy4579]

Coming from combat sports, it’s a total opposite sport. Most paintball guys are very weird and egotistical. In Jiu Jitsu, there is ego but also humility. Anyone can get caught so there was always a mutual respect. If there was a dispute, you settle it on the mats. If your ego was too high, that’s when you get an arm snapped or put to sleep. You respect your training partners, your gym, your mats, your sport. In Paintball it’s like guys who’ve never been punched in the mouth before and it’s odd. Either way, I love paintball and will continue to play but I’m carrying myself like how I do on the mats and everyday life. No paintball situation or scenario will change that. Like the guy said, I got a mortgage and career. I don’t need to be fighting or getting lit up for no reason. Sidenote : look out for the youth. That’s who ultimately will grow the sport. Don’t go to a rec field looking for tournament style play. Your local field owner will thank you.

[@PaintballBoomer]

I played through the 15.5 days. It sucked. It invited a lot of toxic people into the sport, and they thrived. It's a lot better today.

[@OpSic66]

"Make paintball violent again" - And people wonder why sports die due to no new interest. You get what you get.

[@IRONBOVINE]

This is like benches clearing in the MLB or players getting rowdy in the NBA. These things happen when competing and its OK that they happen, so long as they dont happen often.

[@thereeldealnc9671]

yooo whats good homie!!!!

[@GetGregged0n]

Makes me wanna play some rec :')

[@assassin-gr3up]

Really got tired of all the older guys acting like hot shit while they were in D5 and or got moved into D4 just for playing a year. Specially when they’d talk down to me, down at pb fit back when I was 16.. drove me to stop making the drive for practice and just went for some regular reck ball instead. Specially after prices went up at the field with shittier paint. I went ahead and started going for some open play with my buddies I got matching jerseys made and everything we got our gear we just went to play every few months but these speedballers coming through at fun on the run just talk shit to us for not being good when all we wanted is to look decent and stop ripping our shirts and jeans we’d regularly wear. I can say I haven’t played in a year or so just feel like giving up and selling my gear. everywhere I’ve gone there’s someone with a attitude.

[@painteaterpaintball]

that realy sucks to hear man, it feels like the bigger fields like that can cause a bunch of people to act out in ways they shouldnt because theres more people around tey have to try and look good in front of, are there any big scenario games that happen in your area? if nothing else i would recommend sticking to big games as the vibes are usually a lot more chill and less competitive just a large group of people all trying to have fun.

[@assassin-gr3up]

@@painteaterpaintball after all the fiasco we decided on big games we actually had a better experience camping and cooking out while playing some viper games and some Blackhawk down events here in the DFW area instead of dealing with everyone. As I grew older now 23 I’m to the point where I like paintball but I can actually buy a firearm and go to the range instead for pass time then go to big games for actual fun!

[@ilnon1]

I’ll never understand grown men talking down to the youngins. It’s like they still got that high school mentality.

[@kimgodwin3284]

Going out and beating down some newbies gets your game nowhere. And like he said just runs off the next gen of ballers and it kills are sport. Teach what you know, pass on the knowledge. Make it a memory the kids won’t forget. That’s how the sport grows.

[@LemonHead-sq5ws]

I play 18 balls a second ramp 😅

[@Paper-if7hp]

"a bunch of wanna-be tough guys who don't have the emotional capacity to take out their problems in a healthy way." Hey I don't pretend to be tough.

[@ericthiel4053]

I dont get the need for it to be a massacre, even back in the day, the overshooting was a result of uncapped bps usually, so not intentional or done in anger most the time. That being said, sure af dont miss catching 30 rounds from an angel in 2 seconds either lol. No need to get nasty out there.

[@stonnergaming420]

Ya know im still gojg to ramp on rentals

[@zackzittel7683]

Yeah I only snapshoot kids/renters. And I try to shoot hoppers and pod packs

[@DoubletroublePaintball]

I flip my switch to full auto..I show no mercy

[@zackzittel7683]

@@DoubletroublePaintball the only markers I know of that have “switches” are E-grip sear trippers (not actual high end electro-pneumatic) and overshooting kids and newbs is just shitty sportsmanship and hosing someone that has little experience takes far less skill than drilling someone in the hopper/pod with one clean shot. Ive got markers capable of 25+ BPS but I don’t need anything faster than the 10.5 BPS that is the current NXL/NPPL standard.

[@oceansidepirates23]

Every time i play with my friends (which they were) i bonus ball the fuck outta them, its kinda wat buds do 😂 all in good fun

[@somebrains5431]

So we are post aggression, got that. We are post uncapped semi or 15bps ramp with shitty reffing. Cool, i miss it but whatever. Aftershock is coming back in 2024, so those of us that played in the 90s we remeber fist fights and naked bullshit aggresssion. Where does paintball take a high road away from all that yet start pushing gambling? How about the supplements thats landed in paintball? Let's realize that paintball aint some cultural center of wise monks and tkae it for the fringe activity it is. Theres a reasons why it never made it to tv or the Olympics, bc paintball did it to itself decades ago and still cant acknowledge it.

[@creaturefiends9490]

If your not playing intense why play I bet your a take fighting out of hockey kinda person to grow some people

[@painteaterpaintball]

I'm going to assume you didn't even watch the second half of the video because if you did and you're trying to argue with me then you're essentially saying that brutalizing teenage rentals at your local field is what will bring people into the sport

[@bbyshady]

Stop loading your gut and you’d be able to afford paint 😅 You def have a some under belly. I just don’t think pb is really your sport. It ain’t for the faint of heart.

[@painteaterpaintball]

I have no trouble affording paint, this video is about why we shouldn't brutalize rentals and chase people away from the sport, if you going to your local field and ruining a kids birthday party is your thing then I just don't think pb is really your sport

[@Loyalhusband]

You want to grow the sport? The problem is the ridiculous price of the sport\hobby and the gateblocking of speedball. Paint/equipment prices need to come down and speed all fields need to be in woods all rotation. Most fields won’t do this tho because of financial reasons usually only 1-2 speedball fields per location that’s always occupied by the “locals” you speak of

[@knightmare300]

Umm yes sir ar 15 $450 luxe tm40 $1200 like cmon it's a game end of the day if people can't afford it they'll walk away I took my buddy to his first tournament to watch he went to vendors saw the prices for just loaders and pants he decided not to play 😂

[@Pancakeseaweed]

​@knightmare300 got a full used setup for under $500 not a pretty shiny new gun but it works and can keep up. I agree it can be ridiculous but you can absolutely cut the costs.

[@c.j.deyoungiii2704]

Been playing since ‘89. Made it through it all. It’s paintball. You’re going to get shot. Sometimes more than necessary. It happens. Still, there shouldn’t ever be physical contact.

[@c.j.deyoungiii2704]

@@knightmare300used Etha 2, Valken loader, used camo’s, Valken pod-pack, and thermal mask- less than $600. Of course, he could buy a Tippmann and save loads more.

[@Dontfollowmehere]

Nothing in the sport is getting ruined. Making a video titled, “how we’re ruining paintball” is ruining paintball. And I miss the violence from early 2000 paintball, but when guys say that they aren’t referring to hurting children, at least I’m referring to the days when the guns were faster and the paintball was raw and cut throat against guys just like ourselves, not rental groups. I have a 9 yr old that just started playing tournaments so I get your stance and I don’t disagree I just want to share the perspective from someone who misses that violent paintball but I miss it in the upper ranks not rec ball, I’d definitely be pissed if someone over shot my son but then again, that’s paintball, it’s all good. And back in the uncapped days we actually shot less paint because we didn’t hide behind our guns and shoot a lane for 4 pods into nothing. I played then and I play now, the old days were better, xball now is a boring game of chess, it used to be chaos and it was fantastic.

[@thomp6ix558]

Idk im a bit half n half on this one

[@painteaterpaintball]

If you're going to disagree with me I just hope it's not about me thinking that we shouldn't brutalize rentals