This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details.(September 2007)

A three-man speedball team just before the break.

Speedball is one of several game types of the sport of paintball. Speedball is characterized by relatively faster pace than other paintball game types, such as woodsball. When played in a tournament setting, it is sometimes referred to as 'tourneyball'. Speedball can mean: Several team sports, including: Speedball (sport), a combination of European handball and soccer; Speed-ball, a racquet sport came from Egypt Speedball (American), a form of football invented in the United States in 1912; Speedball, another name for speed paintball, a form of paintball often played in... Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1473x981, 361 KB) Summary First Strike Paintball, (www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1473x981, 361 KB) Summary First Strike Paintball, (www. ... A large body of paintball jargon has evolved to describe the unique nature of paintball and paintball equipment, as well as various tactics, phenomena, and people found in the game. ... A woodsball player firing at opponents from behind cover. ... Woodsball marksman in combat. ... A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a single sport or game. ... A woodsball player firing at opponents from behind cover. ...

General

Speedball is characterized by its crazy stuff, both with players and game length, and high volume of fire. Although a typical speedball round lasts only several minutes, many of the players are firing an almost constant stream of paintballs, consuming a quantity of paint in a single round that many woodsball and scenario players would expect to go through in three or four. For this reason, many commercial speedball fields are bordered by a pro shop, where players can purchase additional paint and propellant refills. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Woodsball marksman in combat. ... Thousands of scenario players listen to the opening comments of the games producer before playing in a World War II themed 24-hour scenario game Scenario paintball is a type of paintball game where players play paintball according to a predefined scenario. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

The game format in speedball is almost exclusively 'capture the flag', with official games scored on flag capture points rather than pure elimination. However, once games pass the novice level, it is rare for a team to capture the flag and score without eliminating the opposing team. Exact rules and scoring for speedball vary from sanctioning body to sanctioning body.

Speedball type games have a mirror field (There are the same amount of bunkers in the same locations on either side of the field) so that there is no advantage for either team.

Speedball positions

Playing paintball on a speedball field brings in a number of additional considerations to strategic and tactical decisions. There are three general player roles in three man: back players, center players, and front players. These positions truly develop in advanced speedball players who have practiced or drilled on a team. Recreational speedball is a very different experience. The positions depend on how many players are playing. there would be more positions in 5man, 7man, and 10man.

• Speedball frontman
• Speedball centerman
• Speedball backman

Paintball frontman is a player position in speedball, a game type of the sport of paintball. ... Paintball centerman is a player position in speedball, a game type of the sport of paintball. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...

Markers

Markers intended for speedball focus on consistency, accuracy and a high rate of fire. Many speedball markers have anti-chop eyes, which warn the system when a paintball is inhibited from settling completely in the chamber, to avoid breaking a ball, as players in a speedball match have little time to spare to clean out a barrel. Force-feed hoppers are also a common sight on the speedball field, as they allow for a much faster and more consistent supply of paint than a standard gravity-feed hopper.

In order to achieve peak performance, speedball markers should be tested to ensure proper operation and settings before use and must be cleaned after use. Although high-end paintball markers are fairly picky about the amount of dirt and grime they can ingest before malfunctioning, if properly cared for, the markers will often maintain the full rate of fire, accuracy, and paint velocity with few glitches, chopped/broken paint, or other problems. This is critical in speedball and tournaments, where entry-level markers can fail to operate as parts expand and wear during the course of a game. The thousand dollar-plus price tag and hassles before/after the game often equal out with the smooth operation and consistency high-end markers afford. For speedball players, pulling out a squeegee is not an option, nor is any missed recock.

Most speedball markers are designed to be used with high pressure air (HPA) or nitrogen as a propellant, rather than the less expensive carbon dioxide (CO2). This is due to a more constant pressure output, as the extreme cold of liquid carbon dioxide can cause velocity spikes and will destroy the solenoid valves used in modern markers, as well as the possibility of liquid carbon dioxide shorting out electronic boards commonly used in paintball markers. Use of carbon dioxide will void the warranty on most high-end markers. Popular markers for speedball include the Smart Parts Shocker, Planet Eclipse Ego, WDP Angels and many more from other popular high-end marker manufacturers. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Recreational speedball

Recreational speedball tends to be a highly disorganized game at most fields, without real positions or defined strategy. All skill levels mix, and new players scramble for bunkers as seasoned veterans take up well-defined positions and begin yelling information to any teammate that cares to listen. These games, while fast, are nowhere near the ferocity seen in tourneys and on television and paintball videos.

Some fields have a 'speedball night' billed for skilled speedball players. While the speedball fields are open on any traditional day, speedball days tend to draw tournament players, looking for a pickup game without beginner or intermediate paintballers. These tend to have a distinct 'poolshark' atmosphere, with a familiar crowd of regulars attending most nights. Teams may look for new players at these events, or practice and run drills if team practice is allowed. This is in stark contrast to the normal jovial off-field attitude most walk-on players are used to. There is a definite minimum expectation, and a person who comes unprepared in either skill, proper marker, or other equipment may find the experience unpleasant.

A speedballer playing in a woodsball setting.

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Comparisons with woodsball

Woodsball and speedball are often maintained by their respective proponents as being two different breeds of the same species. However, even though their differences are numerous, they also have many similarities, on a number of varying levels.

More so than in other game types played recreationally, information and constant movement are quite critical in recreational speedball play. The team that communicates the most information, in the most consumable format (i.e. something more useful than "I'm getting shot at") usually wins. As in other game types, experienced speedball players can often be quite upset over newer and less communicative players who move to playing speedball.

In comparison, the larger fields in woods games can severely inhibit effective communication across the entire team, and in basic recreational woodsball and scenarioball, communication is virtually nonexistent and information passes around in the form of unconfirmed rumors. However, advanced woodsball and scenario teams have developed numerous methods of communication, ranging from secure radio channels to hand/arm signals viewed through proper optical magnification instruments (i.e. binoculars or scopes with sufficient eye relief for use with masks), to flag signals and more.

Additionally, basic woodsball's large spaces devoid of activity, combined with the information choke allows an enterprising individual or two to outmaneuver the majority of the other team, which has become cumbersome and difficult to direct due to these difficulties. Organized woodsball and scenario teams have a distinct advantage in woodsball, being used to effective group tactics, widespread coordination and communication even separated from the rest of the team by relatively large distances. Speedball players, while playing in the woods, tend to rely on the overwhelming firepower and rapid movement they are used to, which can be highly successful tactic for walk-on games, but becomes ineffective against advanced woodsball and scenario teams.

Movement is the other key difference in speedball. In woods games, many fields (but not all) have bunkers arranged in an asymmetrical fashion designed to exploit natural factors such as topography, water, vegetation, et cetera, and usually at some distance. In basic recreational woodsball, this lends to long exchanges between two bunkers with very little movement. Speedball utilizes symmetric bunkers that are very carefully arranged to provide an equal playing field, and at the same time bunkers are close enough to encourage movement.

While paintball is played by all genders and ethnic backgrounds, there is some tendency for Speedball and Woodsball players to exhibit bias against one another. Speedball players tend to frown upon the "military" style of equipment and play which is often used in Woodsball. Speedball players and the public generally indicate that it is harder for paintball to be accepted if the markers look like real firearms and the other equipment lends itself to a violent rather than sporting atmosphere. They also often perceive the downtime between skirmishes, such as when attempting to locate the opposition, as slowing the game and sometimes find it downright boring. Speedball players also tend to look at Woodsball markers as cheap because of the initial cost of a Speedball tournament grade marker even though highly modified Woodsball markers can be as expensive or more expensive than an high-end marker. The TV coverage and sponsorship that is more common for Speedball play as well as the tendency for tournaments to use the Speedball play style often makes Speedball players more presumptuous about Speedball being the best form of paintball. Usually the two groups get along fine, but some players see fit to consider their counterparts traitors to the game in some way. Many debates erupt about the best form of paintball when it just comes down to personal preference.

References

See also

• Paintball
• Paintball strategy
• Woodsball
• Player positions (paintball)

A woodsball player firing at opponents from behind cover. ... Woodsball marksman in combat. ... Player positions in paintball refers to the general mindsets and roles of play assumed by players of the sport. ...

External links

• Direct Paintball