Train Hard Paintball - New Logo

Train Hard Paintball introduces its new logo for 2009! Thanks again to John @ Stakkeddesigns.com







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Practicing Paintball Techniques around the House!

Today’s blog topic will offer great insight into practicing simple and effective techniques for any paintball player around their house. As we all know paintball practice can be very time consuming and costly to play multiple times a week. Fortunately, there are several methods one can practice during the week and without the need for air, paint, or even a field to stay on top of their game. The first example includes always carrying your marker around the house! I’m sure my parents can vouch for this one as I would always carry any new gun I got around the house and practice shooting imaginary targets! I did this for several reasons including practicing switching hands while keeping the gun barrel level, holding the marker with my non-dominant hand, loading while shooting, and tightly adhering to different shapes throughout my house. I have always been a firm believer in feeling comfortable with your particular marker and making it an extension of yourself. To this day I still set my marker up with my tank, loader, and barrel and practice these techniques while keeping note of my gun position and playing tight around corners and “bunkers”.

I have always been very fond of playing the snake and the challenges that this system of bunkers bring to the game. The snake can be a very difficult spot to play because of its shape and bunkers that dictate your low body position to the opponent. Adequate snake players must feel comfortable in being able to move quickly in low positions and snap shoot effectively out of awkward positions. For this exercise I would find a low object in the house, such as my bed and constantly adjust myself to come up quickly and imagine shooting a target. Focusing on body position, leg position, and popping up with every part of my body at the same time. Eventually one will be able to smoothly transition into playing the snake and feeling comfortable in hectic situations to eliminate your opponent.

In addition to pretending to shoot imaginary targets, one can also practice snap shooting at a mirror. Without an actual game-type situation, a mirror can be a great tool to distinguish if your form is correct. I would practice lining myself up away from a mirror with flat edges in an open space as if I was preparing to snap shoot at the mirror itself! I would then practice holding my gun and imagining taking a couple snap shots at the mirror while noting the position of my loader, elbows and head in the process. I would practice this exercise left and right handed and perfect it by what appeared in the mirror first. This is a great exercise for any individual who has trouble with their elbow leading their snap shot.

As you can imagine there are numerous techniques that one can practice in the comfort of their own home and at no expense. For me paintball was life and doing anything I could to make myself a better player was all I focused on! I guarantee you there is not one other pro player who has not played paintball “Around the House,” so please don’t feel uncomfortable doing this with your friends, but respect your parents belongings. I hope this will give some of you a little insight and motivation to continue perfecting your game and your technique!

Sincerely,

Gant MacLellan

Professional Player

http://www.trainhardpaintball.com/

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Wetumpka-Paintball Clinic Feb.21

Train Hard Paintball is hosting its next paintball clinic at Wetumpka-Paintball on Februaury 21,2009 in Wetumka, Alabama. Registration is filling up quick so dont delay.

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www.wetumpka-paintball.com




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How to become a better paintball player?

How to become a better paintball player? This is probably the question I get asked the most. Unfortunately there is not one solid answer, I honestly feel its a two part process in order to get there. I will try to keep it straight to the point and as short as possible.

First I'm firm believer on working on key fundamental paintball skills. Snap shooting, that's with yes, one ball at a time. Right handed, left handed, just becoming as comfortable as possible with the paintball marker in your hand as possible. This is where the set up of the gun comes in, it has to be a custom fit for that individual. Trust me it makes all the difference in the world on your performance, great example would be Tiger Woods and his golf clubs. Each golf club is perfectly tailored to fit his body frame, height, arm length, and comfort (grips). The paintball marker has to be tailored to each individual the same way especially if you want to compete at the next level. Everything from the paintball gun size, tank size, drop forward (rail), barrel length, hopper, and grips needs to fit you absolutely perfect. These changes alone will make drastic improvements in the way you snap shoot, sweet spot, run and gun, etc. There are too many times I host a paintball clinic and I immediately see students struggling with snap shooting. The first thing I check is the tanks length, especially with the young students with shorter arms, unfortunately there paintball marker set ups are 9 out 10 times too long. Good news its generally a easy fix by adding a small drop forward or rail and I promise you will see dramatic results. Back to becoming a better paintball player drills, drills, drills by far the best way to getting better. Again Snap Shooting targets at first, water bottles, cones, old hoppers on sticks etc... then move on to one on one against a good partner or group of players. Then transition onto another skill set sweet spotting, bunkering, run and gunning etc. The point is practice makes perfect but make sure you push yourself hard, practice against better opponents (trust me no one likes losing but the end game is getting better and trust me it works), practice as much as possible regardless if you only have 500 paintballs for the day (perfect hone on key paintball skills that use less paint) ex. one on one's with each player filling there hoppers with 50 or 100 paintball per game (great way to rely on skill not paint volume) or stick to snap shots and head checks and finally have fun, ask better players questions all the time. No paint left for the day, take a seat and watch teams and key individual paintball players that are good. Take pointers and mental notes, think of ways you would of done certain moves differently. Watch team breakouts, communication, movement - soak everything up like sponge. Trust me it will all start coming together.

2nd part of the answer is get experience.... Play as many small and local paintball tournaments as possible. Meet new friends at the local field and find ways to create a team, trust me I think that is one of the most rewarding parts of paintball is building relationships and friendships at your local paintball field. I know some tournaments can be expensive, so wait or look for paintball tournaments that fit your budget. You younger guys that love paintball but struggle with money, no excuse..... Put down the Xbox controller and start mowing lawns, shovel snow, bus tables, works deals out on new chores with the parents, search search search if you want it bad enough you will find ways to make it out to the paintball field. Just a little personal background on me, my parents unfortunately couldn't afford to give me a nickel, I literally saved change from around the house and eventually found a job bussing tables at a restaurant. I loved playing paintball soo much it was actually the only thing I thought about day in day out and I was going to let nothing stop me from playing. Unfortunately my job was on the weekends, and paid very little, so I would buy a half a case of paint on Saturday and buy another if I could afford it on Sunday. The paintball field was my life and getting better was my ultimate goal. The minute I ran out of paint I would begin reffing, especially team games in order to learn more. Just to note this was all at the age of 15, I'm now 29. Not to get too far off track, the point is don't let anything hold you back. I hear way too many times players not playing paintball because there saving for a better paintball gun or a new tank, hopper etc... etc... list goes on and on....and on... Play paintball, play as much as you can, these days you can find amazing deals online for used guns. Please don't get stuck in that rut of feeling like you need the DM9, or Ego 9 just b/c it just came out. I had the ugliest stock looking marker for years, ok it was an Automag, may of you probably don't even know what that is. The point is I didn't care because it fit me perfect, worked good, and let me focus on playing more as well as save money to play paintball tournaments. Was it difficult to see all my friends always getting new guns and accessories, absolutely, but there was nothing more rewarding then beating them in one on one's or holding up a trophy from winning a local tournament. Why was able to do this? Because I had the upper hand with consistently practicing and shrugging off the materialistic things. Trust me from experience these are always great new markers being released but your EGO 6, 7 or 8 will do 99% of the time the same job as the Ego 09. Play Paintball, have fun, learn as much as you can - Eat, drink, and sleep paintball - have heart, stay loyal and practice, practice, practice I promise, it works.... I was a professional paintball player by age 17 and trust me back in 1997 that was unheard of. I envy all you young up and comers starting at 10, 11, 12 yrs old. You guys rock and remember you are the future..... By the way you older guys no worries, that's why I love paintball there are no age limits or requirements.

* Just one note on the paintball marker thing, if you do have the money, and paintball gun collecting is your hobby by all means do sooo. I loved getting new equipment each year, but please just dont let it restrict you from playing.

Please feel free to ask me any questions at any time.


Dave Pastore #22
Train Hard Paintball
"Trust me our paintball clinics rock"




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Spent Paintball Clinic Pictures and Write Up - January 10, 2009

Dave Pastore and Gant MacLlelan hosted a Train Hard Paintball Clinic at Spent Paintball on Saturday January 10, 2009. The Paintball Clinic had over 17 participants including guest host PSP (NXL) commissioner Tony Mineo. The Paintball Class had students ranging from all skill levels and ages starting from 10 years old to over 30. Overall the day was a huge success, all participants we're estatic to learn so many paintball skills and concepts in one day. As Tony Mineo commented " I was excited to bring both my two boys Anthony and Nick today, they learned a ton of key fundamental paintball skills and had a blast doing it". Train Hard Paintball would like to thank all the particpants and looks forward to hosting the next Spent Paintball Clinic in the coming months. Stay Tuned!!

Next Paintball Clinic being hosted at Wetumpka-Paintball (Wetumpka Alabama) Saturday February 21, 2009

Click Here To learn more and sign up

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