How to become a better player???

[HIKARU]

I'm interested in becoming a better player.

Out of the choices which do you think would be the more "better" way to become better? If you have another method or reason please explain, I'd love to hear it.

[HIKARU]

ok here is what i found.

this is what i've read on the subject, what I agree with.

1 on 1 , or 2 on 1 training makes you a better player, aim, reaction, movement etc.

3 vs 3, even team games make you a better team player.

both are equally important and enhance different aspects of the player.

[Vanced]

I voted for other, in my opinion to become a better player, my advice is to simply find the best compition you can and play them as much as you can. The game style really doesn't matter. And most good players are good ambasidors to the sport and when asked,( after seeing you play ) will let you know any glaring mistakes you made, or simply tell you your on the right track and just need practice...

Vanced

[Thordic]

Vanced has a point. Play people who make you crap your pants they are so good.

Then ask them for tips on how they kicked your butt so bad :)

[shartley]

[hitech]

Originally posted by Vanced
my advice is to simply find the best compition you can and play them as much as you can.

I would agree. This also works with most other sports as well.

[skipdogg]

all of the above are very good suggestions.
I would like to add practice being outnumbered. 3 on 3 or 5 on 5 is nice, but in most game situations you will be outnumbered 3 to 1 or 2 to 3 etc. Granted some games you will keep all your players and roll over the other team, but that isn't the norm. Turning a game back to your favor once being outnumbered can be done...and it's super sweet when it does!

[Slapp]

If you mean being a better all around player rather than just a better speedball player then I'd also suggest getting into a few large scenario games. You can often tag along with some very experienced folks such as scenario team players that can help you out with things like how to establish and hold a position or how to stage an effective ambush.

Pump gun competitions are popping up now and then as well. I think those are excellent chances to work on your game since it emphasizes moves and accuracy rather than spraying the lanes. You will learn a lot about fundamentals of good play using a pump gun where you need to make every shot count more than ever.

And of course.... Seek the Wang!

[Dern]

I must say to get better overall go to those big events like Pig roasts, AO meets, Supergames, etc. That is where I learned TREMENDOUS amounts of things in paintball. Mostly because so many people are there (like 300+). And they are so much fun (especially when there is a staff of invincibility)

[deded]

The two thing that I practice the most are Snapshooting and Sweetspotting (with a friend)

Snapshooting is fun to practice because you can see yourself get better, and you dont need anyone else there. I just set up targets that can be knocked down in my backyard, pop out, shoot, then pop back out to see where the shots went. After a few rounds the targets start going down much quicker.

Sweetspotting... er at least what i think is called sweetspotting... involves being at the field with a friend who will be on your team. We find two places on the field where we can squeeze someone so tight from one side that he will expose himself on the other side. Practicing this gives a good feel for the field, and more easy tags then most people realize. Unfortunately it takes knowing your particular field well, so its not a very good excercise to practice at home.

Other than those I just degas my marker and shoot at the tv while im watching, the computer etc.... pretty much if im bored and chillin, im holding the paintball marker and practicing my speed.

[FeelTheRT]

sure drills can help you shoot more accurately and what not but honestly, i beleive the best type of training is just playing against other teams over and over and over again. After each game, discuss what you guys did and why you did it. Talk about what you could imporove on in that particular game and try to put it in use in the next.

[BareBack]

Everyone has their own ideas on how to become better, and so they should, no one formula will work for all. For my team, we start with the basics, shooting drills, target shooting (one player sits behind a barricade with a hopper on a broomstick and moves it around like they're coming out of the barricade, while someone is shooting the **** out of it), control and snap shooting 1 on 1; then move on to "in your face" 1 on 1 or 2 on 2, "gauntlet" runs and then some games to finish up, teams depending on who's playing the next tourney or how many people we have.

Once you feel you're no longer learning anything or moving up a level with your skill, try something different.

[Panzerr]

p

I'm actually designing a study as my thesis at the University of Minnesota looking into attributions of failure in professional paintball players. I've done a lot of research in sport Psychology and have several years of playing experience. With that in mind, I can tell you with 100% certainty, that the best way to become a better player is to build up your confidence (aka self efficacy). The more you believe you can do it, the more likely you will be able to do it.

The trick is to find the best way to increase your confidence. I suggest taking on that one person that you've always been afraid to play. Take him on until you can beat him 50% of the time. That's a good start.

[Fred]

Play Pump.

He who walks the path of the pump takes the road less traveled, but once his difficult path crosses that of the unwashed heathen... he will soar and triumph over his opponents...

---Fred
Pumpaholic

[Panzerr]

you got it fred. that's what i did