You may be wondering what kind of paintballs are best for you to try. With so many different types of paintballs on the market, it can be easy to get confused.
Different paintballs are designed for different purposes. Find out what they are, why they exist, how they work, and where to use them.
Read on to learn more about what are the different types of paintballs so you can be better informed on which one is best for your next game of paintball.
What are paintballs made out of?
Paintballs are made of a gelatinous mass that is composed of water, starch, and a small amount of food coloring or non-toxic paint.
This is what allows the paintballs to maintain their form until they impact a surface.
Some paintballs are known to be harder than others, which can cause them to bounce off of more surfaces and hurt more if they hit you.
At the same time, there are paintballs made with a thinner, softer shell that can burst more easily to ensure a splatter with any hit. These can be great for tournaments and they’re also be easier for younger kids to play paintball with.
What are the different sizes of paintballs?
Paintballs come in a variety of sizes including the standard .68-inch size, the newer .50-inch size, and the super-sized .43-inch paintball.
The smaller sized paintballs are sometimes known as mini paintballs, but they are all still paintballs.
Paintballs come in different sizes because they can be used for different reasons.
For example, smaller balls are used in paintball guns for games like capture the flag due to their quick release.
The size of the paintballs in a game depend on the size of the field, and the paintball guns used.
What are the best brands of paintballs?
While some people will swear by certain brands, the good thing is that most packages of paintballs that you can purchase from a reputable store will be just fine.
However, some of the most tried and true brands for paintballs are Valken, VIRTUE, Empire, Spyder, and G.I. Sportz.
What’s the difference between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ paintballs?
Paintballs are generally rated by their accuracy, brittleness, and long-range breakability.
The more accurate and brittle (yet stable when in a hopper or transporting), the higher quality paintball.
Many companies like G.I. and Empire will rank these from 1-Star (recreational) to 5-Star (pro-circuit).
As you move higher up in the ranks, the paintballs will end up costing more. Basic paintballs will suffice for any standard usage, while some tournaments will require a higher end paintball.
Specialty Paintballs
In addition to just your standard paintballs, you can find packages for things you never imagined.
G.I. Sportz creates a ‘winter’ paintball, designed to be fired in sub-zero temperatures. It’s filled with a special CRYO FILL liquid to prevent freezing so your team can play in cold scenarios.
Need a paintball with scents? How about one the glows in the dark? Or makes sound when it explodes?
There are a ton of unique paintballs that are used in Halloween Haunts, Zombie Hunts, Night Games, Alien Invasions, and more.
You can also buy paintballs that are specially designed to work best in mag-fed paintball guns.
This is just to mention the paintballs with actual paint inside them… you can purchase rubber balls, elastic balls, and nylon balls capable of ‘less lethal’ self defense.
Conclusion: Try Out Different Types of Paintballs
The best way to find out what works best for you, is to simply try out all the different types of paintballs you can and experiment.
You can load up on different styles and try out a different pack every time you go out.
If you buy the name brand paintballs referred to in this article, you shouldn’t have to worry about quality as much.
Make sure that you are specific in your search for the perfect set of paintballs, and remember which ones you like the most so you can regularly buy them.
Here are some of our most highly recommended standard paintballs (that are easy to get ahold of), with different styles:
- VIRTUE Ace .68 (Blue w/ Orange Fill)
- Valken Graffiti Paintballs .68 (Orange)
- Valken Graffiti Paintballs .68 (Blue w/ Yellow Fill)
- Valken Infinity Paintballs .68 (Orange w/ Orange Fill)
You can try out these top rated standard paintballs and find which one you like the most.