Are your equipment buying decisions seriously affected by what the "pros" use?

[127.0.0.1]

In some way, yes. But I listen more to what Pros speak, not what they use.

Sometimes just asking them "Do you ever had any problems with that?" can be pretty interesting

That's also my favorite question lol

Also taking account that they may be biased, too, I'm asking a lot of pros.

[einhander619]

Heeeeaaallllz no. Often I try to mimic the exact opposite behavior of pro teams.

[Lohman446]

NO.. ummm maybe

Ok, I was considering Dye pants... and then I saw the pictures from New Orleans of Pride and guess what I ordered... It was a piece of a decision, but not the only reason for it.

[845]

Style wise yes gun wise no.

[~WarpedRT#2~]

Yeah, right. I'd say roughly 95% of the people on AO DO let the pros influence them, and atleast 50% of the paintball playing community. Look at all the people switching from drops to unimounts, rails, and no drops at all. The pros did it first, so it must be cool. Look at all the people who used to wear a squeegee around their neck hanging from a lanyard. The pros did it. It's cool. Wearing knee/shin guards outside your pants, and even sock hats. The pros did it. Is it still cool? Bending the bottom of a Flex 7 up, switching to a V-Force, then a DYE Invision. Alot of people do let the pros influence them, whether they want to believe it or not.

Not new, but still strong, is the fact that people let the pros tell them what guns to buy. Intimidators are the latest. Whats next- Which way is the wind blowing?

[trevorjk]

i bought a PGP today ... buying a phantom soon ... yep i buy what the pros use

[trevorjk]

Originally posted by ~WarpedRT#2~
Yeah, right. I'd say roughly 95% of the people on AO DO let the pros influence them, and atleast 50% of the paintball playing community. Look at all the people switching from drops to unimounts, rails, and no drops at all. The pros did it first, so it must be cool. Look at all the people who used to wear a squeegee around their neck hanging from a lanyard. The pros did it. It's cool. Wearing knee/shin guards outside your pants, and even sock hats. The pros did it. Is it still cool? Bending the bottom of a Flex 7 up, switching to a V-Force, then a DYE Invision. Alot of people do let the pros influence them, whether they want to believe it or not.

Not new, but still strong, is the fact that people let the pros tell them what guns to buy. Intimidators are the latest. Whats next- Which way is the wind blowing?

ive never owned a lanyard or squeegie... i use what ever shoulders the best for me right now a micro drop... ive always wore knee pads *under my pants* and ive always wore ankle things *above my socks* ... whats a sock hat? whats wrong with a baseball cap? intimidators yuck those things have always looked like crap to me so ill never buy one... and i never once bent my flex 7...

[Furby]

Considering that my current gun is 3 years out of date, I guess not. Kinda fun shooting the kid with the latest and greatest with my 'antique', though.

[tyrion2323]

Of course I look to others when I consider new purchases. Where else would I get ideas? The reason I purchased an Empire Reloader is because I saw that the Dynasty boys still shot 12Vs on their angels last year - there's no way in heck I'm going to be shooting faster than them.

Did I do it because I wanted to "be like Dynasty?" nah. I did it because it's a tournament-tested product.

I don't mean to say that people should or shouldn't look to the pros - I'm just saying that I made a great decision in that case, because I love my Reloader.

I also think that it has something to do with the celebrity him/herself. There are some pros that I would trust over others. I would trust the rhythm guys over chris lasoya, ya know? I've met the rhythm guys, and they're pretty straight up and cool, so I'd take their advice over someone who's known for bonus balling...

[SuiciDal Sn Y p ER]

splatmasters, spyders, old school rangers, bazookas...

xmag...

if any pro player uses the following than my answer will have to be yes

but as of now, no! i don't go out and buy something just because i saw a guy on tv or a magazine use it. i buy it because it's good or it can be good.

[Lord_Whoopass]

Personally I am not influenced by pros... I know alot of people who are though... alot of people use Impys, Timmys and O3 shockers locally and there is a lil tribe of angel users up north of me...

lol I have never seen any pro use a SFL Emag or a Viking... which is my main gun and backup gun... so yeah I really dont think I am... Although I do have to say that I was influenced by AGD pride however after seeing how great their emags worked at BFG last year... and personally I think mags are great because of their simplicity...

[breg]

Let's see, I rock the old school stainless steel twist lock power feed main body on my RT/Pro. Nope I'm not really paying attention to what the pros use. But, if I was paid to use a gun, I'd use it and it would be the best gun in the world.

EDIT: Here is a link to a thread that I started a while back about how the high end pro stuff affects me.

[PaintballSmurf13]

I am somewhat affected by what they use only because what they use must be pretty tough and can take beating and thats the kinda gear I need...but when it comes to guns, NO, NEVER affected, b/c it doesnt matter what gun they shoot, a pro wins b/c of skill, not what he shoots, just look at BC, they shoot spyders, not to dis spyders or anything.
-Ryan F.

[845]

My sandana makes me shoot 3 more bps.

[logamus]

im not really influenced by paid endorsers at all. its like the radio spots for car dealers. the afternoon radio guy pitches joe schmoes chevy dealer for six months, then all of a sudden he is pitching some nissan dealer. ads are good to inform you of the product, but imho its silly to use the pitch persons advice. remeber, this time last year dynasty was telling us all how great angels were.