Sliding - how to get over the mental block

[H]

Originally posted by TenaciousM
where as when i was a child they where my main source of food!!!

You gotta love that extra zing that gunpower gives to bun bun meat.

Back to topic:
As far as building confidence with sliding, you really have to practise and attempt in as ideal circumstances as possible before trying it in a game. If you havnt already make you have full pads that fit well and you are comfy in. I used to really suck at the entire concept of sliding but decent pads really can make the diffence.

Pick a decent surface to practice on, no rubbish uneven tufty earth with all manner of sup'air pegs or whatever scatterd about at dangerous angles. Some decent flat grass that is fairly moist is ideal, I used to practice in the garden on the lawn but do be carful of churning up that bowling green quality grass. With sliding, everyone has their own style so just experiment, there's no point going over the top straight away. Think about what you are aiming to achieve with the slide because try and avoid destabilising yourself and lowering your marker unless you really have to. Watch some paintball DVDs and see which situtations the pros use different slides and see how you can adapt them...

Probably really obvious stuff but just my 2 cents at least.

 

[Tom37]

Originally posted by Bolter
And this man was sane enough to be allowed to take a group of kids every week?

sounds fairly normal compared to my sargent

 

[Dazdread]

Fast entrances to small bunkers !!!!

When I do superman dives I fall back on breakfalling techniques from karate, your hand and forearm should hit the ground at the same time absorbing some of the impact, remember to tense your torso otherwise you will probably wind your self... make sure your pockets are empty as you do not want your mobile phone getting too up close and personal with your groin, Oh, and make sure you lift your marker barrel clear of the mud on impact

Secondly, just because you made this great dive does not mean to say you stopped in the right place... start moving into your firing position as soon as you impact.

 

[Oppy]

Originally posted by MrPink
Rosie,

As Myth says, practise is the only way forward - go to your local park and keep trying

this is good idea and highly advised - however, just make sure you "clear the way" before you start - I recently made the mistake of training in the park & ignoring my own advice and duly gained a nice streak down the side of my right leg - a smelly streak which wasnt nice..... Damn dogs!

 

[Andyb]

the secret to a good slide is knowing where the ground is.

 

[protoripper]

slides

first of all. this is a very good point to make. People often slide with their dominate leg tucked under or back. switching legs is uncomfortable so we just leard to do it one way.
the easiest way to correct this problem is to think about the entire run before you actually do it. it only takes a split second, but when you do that you will increase your chances of survival more often then not.
and then there is the obvious. practice practice practice.

and for superman slides, they should be a controlled forward fall through out your entire move. you should never get the wind knocked out of you or roll over uncontrollably.

keep ballin and have fun.

 

[mad dog]

The sliding thing

Well justa few thoughts, maybe those people who played touch ball, or Rugby has a better veiw on this.

I played A top qaulity game of rugby and to dive tackle says it all to me reaching out with your arms and grabbing someone to take them down is good practise.

But it called confidence and practise, the more you try it the more you will pull it off.

Knee slides are good but not for reducing the clearance for front players to get in, and have you ever thought when your sliding on your knees to one side are you shooting at the opposite team.

When I saw some people slide It struck me they where practising without there markers, Why?

Get your marker in your hand and find a good strong grip for you, mostly at the back grip point, then run with it.

In a game you would have to, momentum will take you forwards the faster you go the further you go in theory anyway.Then as you reach you point of slide you tend to drop forwards this will take you into a natural diving position.

Forarms pads are as must and will give a confidence boost that while tilting your marker up that your arms are taking the slide keeping your chest from getting hurt.

Knee slides are effective in some aspects of the game but remember to be ready to move and not settle down into a cosy position for the whole game, you need to be on one knee and ready to move.

Just my thoughts.

I learnt by my mistake....

 

[shadow9712]

slid'n

just slide on your knees with ur head down, or jump...hit...roll...



keep ur gun up... it helps





how do u stay relaxed when ur getttin shot at? just curious

 

[Magic_8ball]

In my mind its all about your mindset. In a game, I have no reservations about sprinting and diving head first through a lane into the snake or whatever, but when no1s shooting at you and you're trying to do diving drills I find it hard to find the motivation to do it - I guess its something to do with the adrenaline. Generally speaking, diving doesnt hurt when you commit yourself to it wholly, its when you have second thoughts as you do it and half back out that you injure urself - rather like a rugby tackle, if u get down low and commit to the hit, you wont get hurt, if u get cold feet and dont give 110% ur guna be a heap on the floor.

 

[PEBBLE]

.

I watch people try to superman and they actually think they can do it but they cant, I have only seen about 20/30 people in the UK who can do them properly you gotta have the right body for it to at least be effective, if your big and fat like a a big percentage of UK players (no offence intended) its a problem