Is tournament paintball heading in the right direction?

[Tony Harrison]

In the UK did not the PA introduce ramping in 2005 then X-Ball in 2006. I cannot remember any domestic event running X-ball pre 2006 except the Fight Club with I believe was just trials for the PA X-Ball format

Correct, Eric - we trialled X-Ball at fight club after returning from the States.

 

[stongle]

In the UK did not the PA introduce ramping in 2005 then X-Ball in 2006. I cannot remember any domestic event running X-ball pre 2006 except the Fight Club with I believe was just trials for the PA X-Ball format

Xball was played at Campaign, Esher 2004, pre ramping but with very lax gun rules. The Milleninum, PA etc introduced ramping later from 2005. So, as written your original statement is wrong. Ramping was introduced to slow the guns down (level the playing field), promote movement and for safety factors (getting shot 20 times was quite common place). It was not some evil conspiracy by the paint companies to bankrupt the players...

As has been said, Tournamant Paintball has much deeper problems than format. As a value proposition it has a poor return. X Ball works as an elite only format. If we made TV, it may have been sustainable (that debate has been raging here since 2003 anyway). 7 man might suit the regular player base, but is poor value when compared with other non-paintball activities. If you think people are leaving paintball because of Ramping or format, you shouldn't exclude the festive rulebook and bad reffi'ng. Even looking at these fromat intrinsic problems, I don't think you solve the underlying problem that Tournament is poor value and the Pro experience is not representative of the paying customer.

 

[Tony Harrison]

So can we agree that asking the MS not to release field layouts prior to an event would be a positive step?

Also, I know we have been down this road before, but can we agree that appointing a player rep to the MS would also be a positive step?

 

[SabreWolf]

If you want to compete at the top you yourself has to make it happen. People lack the will power because they can't be bothered to turn up to training because they've been out drinking the night before. I've seen it happen and these players who want to reach the top ultimatly don't because they don't train, turn up and run drills every week that is determined by the team.

I remember a post written by Tommy Pemberton in 2008 saying that players have to get themselves out there, they will get spotted and offered opportunities, this is true for every team out there looking to extend their squads. Money is not a road block, if you want to reach the top you'll put in the hours to get money in the week and spend all your earning at the weekend.

Many teams don't take the next step up to compete from 5 man to x-ball because of laziness, going out to find commited players, its really not that difficult to vet the people you don't want in your squad, but asking simple questions like how they would fund the season, what kind of transport they have, what events they can attend.

You don't need to compete in the Mills straight away, do just a single series and try to do as best as you can in your first year, once you and your team has a grasp of where they are at the end of the year financially and ability in a format then go ahead and enter yourself into the mills.

Again, a team has to be formed of like minded people, although difficult to acheive, its not impossible. I believe Birmingham Temper is proof of this as they have done rather well this season in x-ball, progressing each step of the way. Although I don't know their team structure I doubt they play for a mid table position each time they attended the CPPS, aim high and you'll acheive your goals.

Sorry but i dont buy the " sorry ive been on the piss" part of that comment!
thats totally a bad cop out, people cannot afford to play a full x-ball season and thats a fact!
Unless your supported, your team isnt playing a full season and thats a fact, its down to 5 -man with you all.

Having a team full of piss heads is a bad idea anyway and i doubt this is the reason for most teams not competing...

 

[SabreWolf]

Well, if you want to go about it like that and you're happy about where you are in a team, then stick with it

If you want to reach the top sacrifices have to be made, buy a bike, take the bus, leave the car at home, don't go out eating so much, consider giving up smoking, stop buying top branded 'finest' range foods, all good consumer advice from the credit card companies apply, if you can't do that then start saving for the season after. You can still get yourself noticed! Heck, i don't know why people don't just ref an event every now and then to pay for the green fee and paint for the next event or day after, every series needs refs, it will still provide you with an insight into how other teams play and you can still learn by watching and you'll soon appreciate how difficult it is to make a good call every time.

Paintball is a hobby, as is skydiving, snowboarding and water-skiing some take it more seriously then others as with every hobby. If you want it bad enough, there really isn't stopping you.

Also, these things in reality shouldn't have to sacrificed if the sport was in correct order. This is a prime example that the sport is going in the wrong direction.

 

[ShimmerShot]

SabreWolf,

Post #54 - I said people, as in individuals. Individuals make teams, if one person is hung over, that will affect him and this i turn will effect the team. Why don't you get your team supported? Don't get me wrong, it takes time to build up sponsors, but building always takes time, nothing happens overnight. Teams need to show a longevity to stay after their first year, first year is always a hard year. once you prove what you can bring to the table in the form of rankings you can express where you believe the team will end up next season. We're not talking about factory team support here, its all very limited, paint manufacturers have cut paint support for nearly all UK teams, which is the main drawback, and with the price of a single paintball at more then 00.01p then your right, a case of 2000 isn't cheap, 1 shot drills, simple 15secs break out drills are all very much achievable one 1 box of paint, and whilst your already in a field, do cardio? We want to bring this out as a sport, perhaps we should do some actual Physical sessions.

Please tell me this, what would 'getting to the top' mean for you? what will it offer you, will it change your life?

Post #55 - Its great you saying that, but you offer no alternatives to how it can be changed. Paintball will never be classed as a 'sport' in the terms that cycling and hockey are sports, the interests of outside companies investing into paintball are nil. You find me a Nike, haulage or a watch company who will be willing to invest money towards a team and continue to support that team right through and through, season after season - it wont happen, our sport is still perceived by the general public as mates shooting each other with headbands and camo face paint, and lets be honest and I doubt that perceptions are going to change, not because its a bad sport, but because we've tried in the past to get it out to the public and failed. No other shooting sport in the world involves shooting other people, its just too difficult to sell and promote.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Xball was played at Campaign, Esher 2004, pre ramping but with very lax gun rules. The Milleninum, PA etc introduced ramping later from 2005. So, as written your original statement is wrong. Ramping was introduced to slow the guns down (level the playing field), promote movement and for safety factors (getting shot 20 times was quite common place). It was not some evil conspiracy by the paint companies to bankrupt the players...

As has been said, Tournamant Paintball has much deeper problems than format. As a value proposition it has a poor return. X Ball works as an elite only format. If we made TV, it may have been sustainable (that debate has been raging here since 2003 anyway). 7 man might suit the regular player base, but is poor value when compared with other non-paintball activities. If you think people are leaving paintball because of Ramping or format, you shouldn't exclude the festive rulebook and bad reffi'ng. Even looking at these fromat intrinsic problems, I don't think you solve the underlying problem that Tournament is poor value and the Pro experience is not representative of the paying customer.

Sorry if it was not clear but I was not talking about anything else but the UK domestic scene, which does not include Esher. I do remember watching the odd game of X-ball between games at Esher that year, though.

Ramping @ the January 2005 PA meeting was promoted as a way to get rid of gun cheats

 

[Minibaker]

I Think M5 should be replaced by 7man as it is basically the same format minus 2 players.
Let the players pick what they want to play.... Who are we to state what should be played and what shouldnt.? everyone has their own opinion - but their opinion isnt LAW!

Yeah so the MS have lost 3 teams 2 awesome and 1 not so but still its sad. but you forget with the lost of those 3 teams 2 new teams from the SPL move up. so its equaled out.

for 2011 in the uk paintball scene why not adopt 7man to replace M5 and have the two most popular formats in paintball X-ball with all its glory and if you dont want a fast paced game and you want a more tactical game play 7man.


but just play what you want

 

[Tony Harrison]

Has anyone noticed that the CPPS is running their 2011 M5 Conference League as semi-auto, capped at 10.5 bps?

Ballsy move, Rich!

 

[urbank]

I believe in a square field and ramping very capped, then the game would count more on player moves and less on ropes of paint.
I really would like to experience it!