Future of Paintball

[Sittin_duk]

I highly doubt that they'll be the next improvement. The mis-shaped ball is often a part of the game, see above statements by me as to why. Paintball isn't supposed to be shooting at each other with bullets. It's paintball. PaintBALL, not paintFOOTBALL...

The next advancement will most likely be air tanks/types of air. This has been proven with the C3.

What say YOU?!


And to your speedball argument: There are not many speedball players that have had a camera crew or commentators following them around. There are a select few, probably more than scenario ballers. But also, in the ESPN showing of paintball, there were 3ish people that wiped/cheated in that whole tournament. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that tourney players don't wipe. They do, a ton, but I'm just saying that scenario ballers do it just as much if not more than tourney players.

[p8ntballweird]

yes, and when a scenario player plays on/whipes in a scenario, what is it doing for them? Nothing. Tournament players are actually winning something, they may have flown across the country to win this tournament, they may need the winnings, it may be the difference between getting a sponsor or not. That one or 2 wipes.
if a scenario baller wipes, its realy not doing them much.
I in no way support wiping, but I think tournament players have a better reason to than woodsballers.

[scpaintballer01]

please note- on the ESPN covered tourney, the cheaters were caught by the reffs, given their penalities, and the game moved on. Also, ESPN interviewed and made a complete fool of them on national TV...a bit more motivation NOT to cheat.

[Junkie]

Let's get back on the topic of this thread.

[Junkie]

My main reason for creating this thread is based on the amount of equipment that I have collected to this point in my career. I'm not your usual type of baller who does a lot of trading/selling, I tend to keep what I purchase.

If the sport evolves past .68caliber (I read in paintball sports about a .55 caliber marker that is supposed to bridge the gap between airsoft/paintball) the investment in my gear and collectibles would be affected.

I do realize that I would have sufficent time to unload a lot of the stuff but my main point is I like what I have and want to continue to use what I have in the future..

[Bobio]

Originally Posted by PBjunkie

My main reason for creating this thread is based on the amount of equipment that I have collected to this point in my career. I'm not your usual type of baller who does a lot of trading/selling, I tend to keep what I purchase.

If the sport evolves past .68caliber (I read in paintball sports about a .55 caliber marker that is supposed to bridge the gap between airsoft/paintball) the investment in my gear and collectibles would be affected.

I do realize that I would have sufficent time to unload a lot of the stuff but my main point is I like what I have and want to continue to use what I have in the future..

My observation is this: If there is no major industry change away from the .68 cal. paintball, I think what we will see will be minor improvements in the internals, manufacturing procedures and materials, and aesthetics. For example, if you put the paintball "pistols" together, there is little difference, apart from the Tiberius Arms magazine modification. Basically the pistols are all the same shape and size. The changes and improvements have been internal. I think things like more efficient use of air, better shell design on paint and faster, more efficient loaders are examples of things we will see.

[Bobio]

Oh yeah, like you Junkie, I think, with one exception I have every gun I have ever bought.

[GTHEWORM]

Don't look for ".68" caliber to go the way of the DoDo (or Tour de Force) The introduction of a .55 caliber ball could only bridge a miniscule gap between airsoft and paintball but manufacturers aren't going to start from scratch, re-tool and un-do everything they have accomplished in the past 20+ years. (see SMG60, Crossman 357, etc.) .55 caliber balls are easier and cheaper to manufacture but they don't have the mass (weight) to carry them the distance that paintballers are used to seeing nor will they break on target as easily. The smaller a paintball gets, the more structurally sound it becomes, thus, making it harder.

Sure, you can have a thin-shelled, .55 caliber ball but then we're right back to where we are now...so why go through the headaches of reinventing something that already works? Golf balls are primarily the same size for a reason, same with paintballs. It's not really the size of ball that causes so many headaches with players, its the manufacturing / curing process, packaging, shipping, handling, storage, temperature, humidity, (and many other factors) that affect the integrity of a paintball; and that's BEFORE it's even put in to a loader!!

Look for major changes in the sport to come from power/propellant sources, innovative accessories and improved safety gear.

[Bobio]

and tennis ball cannons for tanks.