Equipment Assessors...

[Pinky_81]

Agree with it all...

All this actually makes quite a lot of sense!! I agree
Rules should be clarified a lot - hate when people are arguing about the meaning of the rules!!

The only piece of equipment I like for the bouncing is the rubber cap thing on top of my old JT Spectra - But I definately only wear it for protection only, which should be the only issue... It really hurts getting skulled!!

Pinky

 

[manike]

Beaker, the flappy bits are not referring to the ends of bandanna's or tieing off bits which are fine in my opinion.

It's referring to the 'Lawrence of Arabia' type head veils. Which not only work very effectively to slow down and stop paintballs shot into the side/back of someone's neck area. But also cover over a large proportion of their shoulders and backs (extra layer?). I've seen these on several occasions actually 'catch' paintballs and allow them to roll down to the ground.

I agree with Nick that areas that need high levels of padding/protection should be covered by hard plastic. So you get good protection if you want it, but also a hard receiving surface. You have a choice. A certain amount of thin padding, or lots of protection for diving etc. but a hard surface.

Maybe a maximum thickness foam without hard protection and then anything over requires a hard cap?

 

[Matski]

Si I have to disagree on the 'Lawrence of Arabia' type head veils thing. I think they have a legitimate purpose when playing in hot conditions, having the sun beating down on the back of your neck all day is not healthy and can lead to sun burn and/or heat stroke.

Take gloves for example- They are soft and take bounces for players, yet they also provide protection against friction burns when sliding etc.....

As for the veil slowing down hits to the back of the neck.......Does that really make a difference? Lets face it, 8/10 when a player gets hit in the back of the neck they have probably been bunkered, and shot several times. Ive never seen head gear keep someone in the game under those circumstances....

 

[Beaker]

Originally posted by manike
Beaker, the flappy bits are not referring to the ends of bandanna's or tieing off bits which are fine in my opinion.

It's referring to the 'Lawrence of Arabia' type head veils. Which not only work very effectively to slow down and stop paintballs shot into the side/back of someone's neck area. But also cover over a large proportion of their shoulders and backs (extra layer?). I've seen these on several occasions actually 'catch' paintballs and allow them to roll down to the ground.

Got pics?

I can't think of anything I've seen which means that a player would get bounces where there would have been breaks - only it might have caught balls which would have otherwise missed anyway.

 

[Beaker]

Beaker my man !

Originally posted by Nick Brockdorff
For clarification on Simons point, I would have a look at your own Avatar !

Shhh

 

[Buddha 3]

Originally posted by manike
It's referring to the 'Lawrence of Arabia' type head veils.

Dude, wake up and smell the ghetto! Those are called 'doo-rags', or sometimes 'du-rags'. Sheesh, you are so not from tha hood!

 

[Burb]

The lists can go on.........What about the Neck protectors?
I wore one after i got a scar from being mugged - and i can safely say i have a had a few bounces of it.

I dont wear it now though because they look UGLY as hell.

 

[manike]

Matski, if it's just covering the back of the neck then I see no issue with that... I've seen some that cover the neck, the shoulders, and even down to cover the top of people's packs...

Beaker... I'll see what I can find, there was one Pro team last year who wore such things quite a lot. I don't think the one you are wearing in your avatar is like the kind of the one I am questioning.

And hey currently it seems legal, so I'm not knocking anyone who does wear such things.

Nick, I also agree that forearm pads are valid with the current playing styles, if not absolutely necessary. But you must also be able to see the advantage to an inch and a bit of padding on the front of your forearm when you come out the side of your bunker... Maybe we shouldn't outlaw it? Maybe we should make it a requirement that safety where flexing isn't required is covered by a hard outside layer. The only safety where flexing on the outside is important in my opinion is goggles, to make sure they don't get jarred off, and maybe neck protectors for comfort.

After all isn't the game about making the balls that hit some one mark and count? Not about making shots that are on target not count? If someone does shoot you, shouldn't it count? The only reason they stopped bouncers from counting was because it was hard to prove. Doesn't mean we should allow people to make bouncers happen as often as possible...

How's that for a different take on it?

 

[Burb]

Pinched from www.paintballcity.com

It seems every year the players in the NPPL and other leagues come up with new and exciting ways to play within the rules of the games. Last year the NPPL'ers placed tons of colorful stickers all over their hoppers to hide hits and distract opposing players into thinking they might've hit them.

Years before that, and to this day, players wear heavy shirts or sweatshirts under their gear to help promote bounce offs regardless of how hot it made them. Whatever it takes to win right? Or wrong?

Well this year the newest thing to hit the league was extra elbow pads worn on the forearms of players. The pads are so big that players might as well tape pillows to their arms. The idea works, and I can assure you when you hit one of these players in the arms it is quite frustrating.

If everyone used the same equipment and the equipment was strictly enfored would it make for a better game? I think so. The reason being because it would take out that luck/cheat factor. The players that were more skilled would benefit instead of the player who received the extra arm band from his pads.

I can say one thing, I'm very tempted at this point to join the rest of the world and wear these extra pads. So many other teams are wearing them the only way to make it fair is to match them.

The problem is that if the NPPL decides to ban this element of the game...enforcing the rule would not be as easy as the new hopper sticker rules because the refs would have to check the arms of all players, thus slowing down the tourney some.

Anyways...that's my gripe.

Link

 

[Mason]

Biking gear

Let's look at biking gear, as this stuff is got to be some of the best protection anywhere:

Helmets: soft on the inside, hard on the outside. That Idea works great for paintball padding (not for masks, obviously)

Knee/elbow pads: soft(ish) on the inside, hard as nails on the outside, see above.

So if it's for protection that padding is being used for in paintball, then a hard outer side will only improve protection, reduce bounce, and make everyone (except the sap who got marked) happy.