Playing without a mask

[Evil Bob]

Think about the target area you normally present to the guy/gal shooting back at you...

1) your head
2) your marker

Those are the two places you are most likely to be hit if you are playing tight. With today's high rates of fire, the odds of getting hit are higher, even when playing really tight in on your bunker, especially if your opponent has any skill at all.

That being the case, I would not play without proper full face protection, the odds are high that you will get hit in the lip. It is extremely painful as anyone who has been punched in the mouth will tell you.

-Evil Bob

[raehl]

Do *NOT* remove parts of your face mask.

And because it hurts to get shot in the lip or down the throat is not the reason.

Your goggles are only designed to function correctly with the face mask in place. If you remove all or some of your mask, you increase the chances that paintballs impact the goggles in ways that the manufacturer does not intend. For example, I *ALWAYS* wear my visor, because I don't want paintballs that come from above me having shell fragments going through the ventillation and into my eyes.

Your facemask is there to keep paintballs from hitting the underside of your goggles where they could potentially cause eye damage. Only use intact facemasks.


- Chris

[paint magnet]

Well, against my better judgement I carved away on my Proteus Anyway, it still has full ear protection, full nose and mouth protection, it's just a little bit more exposed on the sides, so a little more of my cheek could be hit. It doesn't seem to affect the strength of the unit at all, since I only cut away the really soft rubber part at the bottom. I also cut out the smallest circle part in the front, and it's not big enough for a paintball to go though, it just means I would eat more paint. If you look at a proteus, the only difference you would see in mine is that the lower portion has been removed except for within 2" and the front of the mouth. I don't think it's unsafe, like I said it doens't expose much more than before. I will let you know how it turns out since I'm playing this weekend.

[BTAutoMag]

dude, youre an idiot. im wont be suprised if the refs wont let you play

[Cristobal]

iirc, one of the dangers to playing without the mask, is that a shot to the upper cheek, just below the goggle, can still have enough concusive or deformative effect to damage the eye

[paint magnet]

I'm not talking upper cheek, it's a little above my jaw bone.

[CayleG]

You used to be able to play in the NPPL with just goggles, but then as paintball grew, it was seen that paintballs hitting the side of the nose or there abouts could actually be channelled up along the nose, under the goggles and into the eyes... basically, if you remove the mask part, you can still take it in the eye... not good...

btw, you must suck air like a jet engine if a mask actually inhibits your breathing :)

[maldoror]

I played in the 1996 NPPL world cup without a mask (just goggles), and so did most everyone else. I played for years in rec-ball without a mask (just goggles) as well. It is not that big of a deal, grow some nads kiddos.

Plus paint tends to bounce off the flesh on your face as opposed to hard plastic of a mask.

[TimEmag00134]

Not worth it!

First off, by no means do I intend to insult anyone in particular. I understand why you would want to alter your mask, but it is not only unsafe, but I would consider the idea very stupid. Like someone else mentioned earlier, with todays rate of fire you're more than not likely to get hit by one shot but by about 3-4.

Not only that but why would you spend a good 40-80 dollars for a mask, alter it, then go to a field and have them tell you that you can't play with that mask? Not a good investment. On the other side of things, if you do not play at a regulated, insured field and you play "outlaw ball" then you run the risk of getting hit by a paintball gun that is shooting above the industry limit of 300 fps since most "outlaw" ballers don't want to pay for a chrono.

When it comes down to it, it's just not worth it.

[Thordic]

I play with the flex part of my Flex7's folded up. I've gotten shot in the mouth before, it hurts, but you live. I got a bloody lip at the last NE AO Day that way. Two shots right in the mouth that day, I think my gum was bleeding too.

Nothing serious though, swelling went down within the hour and all was well anyway.

I find you can breathe better with the mask folded up, and your voice is less muffled. I've been playing with it folded up for about a year now, and I like it that way.

But its all personal preference, I don't think you'd get hurt very bad though. Maybe lose a tooth or two, though.

[BTAutoMag]

Originally posted by maldoror
Plus paint tends to bounce off the flesh on your face as opposed to hard plastic of a mask.

owie... man you got some balls (and cheaks) of steal for doing that

[vf-xx]

On the ear thingy: I"ve been hit directly on the side of my head, just behind my ear canal. the paint splattered through my V-force vents and into my ear canal, and my ear was buzzing for quite some time afterwards.

I'd say you MUST have ear protection.

Then again this was out in the woods so things are a little different that way.

[Tom Sparkman]

Originally posted by maldoror
I played in the 1996 NPPL world cup without a mask (just goggles), and so did most everyone else. I played for years in rec-ball without a mask (just goggles) as well. It is not that big of a deal, grow some nads kiddos.

Plus paint tends to bounce off the flesh on your face as opposed to hard plastic of a mask.

Yes, we didn't use seat belts in the 60s. I was even in a head-on unbelted at 18 and survived with cuts and bruises.

Just because I didn't get hurt doesn't mean it's a good idea - I always wear a belt now.

Tom

[paint magnet]

Well, the way I cut my mask, it covers slightly more than a folded-up Flex 7. And I don't play NPPL, just occasionally CFOA.

[maldoror]

Originally posted by Tom Sparkman


Yes, we didn't use seat belts in the 60s. I was even in a head-on unbelted at 18 and survived with cuts and bruises.

Just because I didn't get hurt doesn't mean it's a good idea - I always wear a belt now.

Tom

The 60's? I dont ever wear a seatbelt and its 2003. However I live in the mountains and if I were in a major accident it would someitmes be better to be thrown from the vehicle without a seatbelt than say staying in a car that is about to roll down a 900 ft. enbankment, catch my drift.

I see it like this, If I dont want to wear a seatbelt I should not have to, If I do not want to wear a facemask portion (only goggles) I also should not have to, but alas the threat of lawsuit after lawsuit ruins the freedom of choice. The lack of personal responsibility in todays world is the doom of us all.