Old Crock Grounded and Seeking Thrills

[PhilP]

Greetings all, I am 49 years old and until about Oct last year spent every free minute flying a paramotor (go google it, then check you-tube and search on 'bailey' & 'ditch' if you fancy a laugh). Unfortunately, a previous infection in my leg had resulted in a seriously fubared hip joint resulting in surgery and hip replacement in November.

This my surgeon tells me, means I should refrain from my style of aviation, largely as it involves landing on your legs at up to 20mph with 30 odd kg of motor strapped to your back. This he tells me is classed as 'a bad thing'.

So, as someone who loves to tinker with guns (and fondly remembers when the ridiculous UK legislative system allowed us to play with REAL handguns), I fancy a go at this here paintball lark.

Now from what I read, going to a field for a walk on day, may be just the ticket for me (allowing for the fact that the walk is somewhat lop sided at the moment). I have to ask however, is anyone really going to want to play alongside a crock like me, or will all these lithe whipersnappers leave me feeling like the last kid in the playground to be picked for football.

I don't mind hobbling about as fast as I'm able, and despite my not inconsiderable personal presence, am fairly able to lurk behind trees with the best of them. A couple of years spent as a weekend warrior helped a little in that regard.

I also come already tooled up guv'nor, as my tinkering instincts led me to purchase a Tippy A5 some time ago, just so I could play with an automatic weapon in my relatively rural idyl. This I have tweeked with the addition of the various upgrades to the cyclone system, a rampage board and a Stiffi barrel. I also have a remote air kit. Perhaps needless to say, I lean slightly towards the milsim appearance, but don't mind having a go at anything.

So, what are your thoughts? Should I just stay at home with the zimmer frame, or with the blanket tucked round me, or will there be a place for me in the paint splattered woodlands of Nottinghamshire?

If anyone in my sort of area (Newark, Notts) fancies spoon feeding me and introducing me to the wonders of the sport, I'd definitely be up for that, I'll buy the paint

Cheers, Phil

 

[PaintballWizard]

Ha ha. Hello and welcome to the forums.
Well considering you're only swapping paramotoring for this i think that you'll be absolutely fine. there's not many of the ( forgive me for the lack of a better word) 'older generation' in tournament paintball buy unknown a lot of great players at warren wood who are getting on a bit

Just try it for yourself. I think you'll have a great laugh.

 

[uncle_osiris]

As long as your fingers can pull the trigger there's little else for you to worry about At the end of April warped paintball are hosting the annual 'big game - north vs. south' apprx 1200+ players for a weekend of paintball, beer and perusing of new fineries. It's a great introduction to the sport and a good laugh.

http://www.northvsouth.com/

 

[Robbo]

I don't think your age will prove to be a problem Phil, I know of ballers who kept playing well into their 60's.
However, the last thing you wanna do is compromise that injury of yours and the best judge of that is not the responses you will get in this thread, rather, you yourself being honest with what you feel is achievable.

As long as you are sensible then paintball is a great opportunity to have fun and also a great arena in which to develop skills and enjoyment.
It is a unique sport mainly because I think it resonates back to the 'cowboys and Indians' we all used to play when kids.

I begun playing when I was 34 and played pro up until I was 44, I very much doubt those few extra years you have on-board are gonna be problematic, far from it in fact.

I'm sure there will be somebody who will respond to your post and I wish you luck in your new venture, you couldn't have chosen a better sport Phil.

 

[Dark Warrior]

PhilP
You live within stones throwing distance of one of the best, if not the best, woodland sites in the East Midlands, Skirmish Notts - Clumber Park.
They have regular walk on days, amazing concept fields and are the most friendly staff you can find anywhere.
Give them a call and get yourself down

Skirmish, Notts

 

[Nickeroo]

Hey, don't let anything hold you back. If there's one thing this sport is great for, it's giving anybody and everybody the ability to pick up a gun and shoot people. My team used to have a chap playing with us who had two hip replacements, and that never held him back, also had a chap with one arm frequently visit a site i worked at. You'll even see the odd video or two on youtube of people in wheelchairs playing. Walk-ons are great for a good day of laughs and a mobility impairment should not hold you back so get in!

 

[PhilP]

Well you are all making me feel very positive now, and that's great.

I'm hoping my paramotor grounding won't be permanent, but I have promised myself and SWMBO that I'll be good till at least after the six month check up. Once airborne again, that could introduce a new element to scenarios, with low level strafing runs ;-)

I would be taking great care to work within my limitations, and it was as much that aspect that I was checking up on.I don't want to handicap a group, as presumably you don't play as an individual.

I know that there is no such thing as a true paintball sniper, but perhaps I could lean towards that sort of role, using concealment rather than speed as a tool. You just wait till I build my intended silencer, silent but deadly, they'll never know what hit them

Phil

Could someone explain a typical 'walk on' day, so I don't feel completely out my depth?

 

[Biscuit]

if you have ever played a punter day then it is very similar but with your own gear

if you are into more your milsm/scenario type of games try www.ukscenario.com

guys on there could probably tell you more about that type of event

things like nvs,staargate and armaggedon are great events to play and they are not all about running round like a mad man

this is from a 43yrs old baller

plus i still haven,t found no kid that can run faster than 200mph

 

[Brad_Marsh]

A "Walk on" Day generally comprises of all levels and styles of paintballer playing a day together... the main difference to a walk on day to a normal recreational "stag-do" style day, is that most people there will bring their own equipment and gear, and the paint will be sumwhat reduced in price, but most walk on days (and dont quote me on this) will allow you to bring your own paint. cheapening the day further.

You will see the brightly coloured jersey clad speedball warriors turning up in their pseudo "Picaso camouflage" and sticking out like a sore thumb but shooting mid-high end paintball markers capabale of shooting well up to 20-25 balls a second. (not that they will).

and the Rambo style, geared out, smoke grenade weilding scenario players, up to the teeth in war paint and gadgets.

Walk ons are generally the step AFTER ur first recreational day if u want to advance in the sport we all love.
Hope i helped.

BM