Paintball Glossary
A short list of commonly used terms that may be useful to know.
A
A (bunker)
An inflatable standing paintball bunker that is in the shape of an A or an inverted V. It is the altered version of the standard sized X bunkers were commonly used as the center bunker on a regulation X-ball field in the Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) paintball league. Due to the X bunkers' large size and the upper half never really getting used after a certain height, the PSP chose to omit the top half of the X bunker to save fields the cost of buying a huge bunker that is often difficult to standup and inflate, especially when when half of it isn't even being used in game play. This new bunker is still commonly referred to as the X or the A.
Agg
A shortened version of "aggressive" when referring to a player's appearance more than their playing ability on the field and their playing style. It was a term popularized by the Hostile Kids (HK or HK Army) team from Southern California. This is interpreted more as a sort of paintball fashion fad, however, there is a back story regarding HK, "agg", and the actual meaning and popularization of the term, albeit a back story that is disputed regarding various detail discrepancies.
Anti-Chop Eye (a.k.a Eyes)
A detection system on electronic markers used to determine the status of the breech, most recreational equipment found available for rental at paintball fields do not have eyes. There are three types:
- Reflective Eyes - These use an infrared sensor to measure the amount of reflected infrared light from the bolt or paintball shell. These systems have greater capability to distinguish the reflecting object and its speed, but can have problems detecting darker paintball shells.
- Break Beam Eyes - These use an infrared emitter and detector directly opposite each other, detecting objects when the sensor stops receiving light.
- "Laser" Eyes - These use emitters in the visible spectrum to easily ensure that they are not blocked by debris or build-up.
Autococker
A paintball marker that uses external pneumatics to cycle the bolt and recock the hammer.
Aztec
An inflatable bunker that has slanted sides and a flat top. Similar to the shape of Aztec pyramids. These are typically around 5ft tall, there are taller variants to these bunkers but those tend to be referred to as "Mayans".
B
Back Player
A speedball position that describes a player who is positioned closer to the starting side of the field or typically furthest away from the opposing team. This positions serves to support for the mid and front players, suppressing opponents by holding lanes and specific sides of the field, communicating with front players who often have a restricted view of the field, and preventing mid and front players from being bunkered. This is a position that typically requires a lot of competitive players to carry and shoot a lot of paintballs; there is less "glory" in this position despite how important it is. Back players may also be expected to fill front and mid positions during a game should those players be shot out.
Baller
A person who is more competitively active in the sport of paintball.
Barrel Back/Front
The back piece of a two- or three-piece barrel (usually in a kit) which attaches directly to the breech of a marker and is usually honed to a specific bore size or holds the insert of a specific removable bore sleeve. A Barrel Front is the rest of the two- or three-piece barrel kit that attaches to the other end of the barrel back that is open thus putting the barrel at its full intended length. Standard barrel length ranges from 12in to 14in. Anything longer or shorter is usually selected based on personal preference and style of play. For example, scenario paintball may find more use in longer barrels in hope of achieving a longer shooting distance.
Barrel Plug/Sock
Plastic barrel plugs are inserted into the front of the barrel to prevent paintballs from exiting in case of accidental fire. These are not entirely safe, however, as subsequent shots will eventually dislodge the plug; the latter two are terms for the same thing: a plastic cover or canvas bag secured to the paintball marker with an elastic strap. Barrel socks can withstand multiple paintballs and are generally required over plugs at tournament or large-game settings.
Blind Firing
To shoot your marker over or around cover without looking where you are aiming. Generally it is against the rules, as players could inadvertently hit somebody who is already out or a referee.
Bonus Ball
Overshooting a player out of anger.
Bounce
A paintball making contact with a player without breaking. Such paintballs usually 'bounce' off and do not count as an elimination.
A term referring to a trigger set-up that causes more than one firing cycle to occur with only one pull of the trigger. This can be caused by electronic signals being misinterpreted by the board as more than one trigger pull, or by the trigger mechanically actuating the switch more than once. Excessive trigger bounce is banned by most sanctioning bodies, and markers are repeatedly tested to ensure that bounce is not present during tournaments, with players violating the rules receiving penalties or disqualification.
A term referring to a trigger set-up that causes more than one firing cycle to occur with only one pull of the trigger. This can be caused by electronic signals being misinterpreted by the board as more than one trigger pull, or by the trigger mechanically actuating the switch more than once. Excessive trigger bounce is banned by most sanctioning bodies, and markers are repeatedly tested to ensure that bounce is not present during tournaments, with players violating the rules receiving penalties or disqualification.
BPS
Balls Per Second, a measure of rate of fire for paintball markers. It is typically something discussed regarding markers with electric features and allow for players to "walk" the trigger as a means to shoot more paintballs per second as opposed to mechanical markers such as those found as rental markers at paintball fields.
Break
A broken paintball inside the marker.
It is also a term used to describe the start of a game. It either refers to the actual start or the strategy a team uses when the game is start. This is a shortened term for a Break Out or Break Out Plan.
It is also a term used to describe the start of a game. It either refers to the actual start or the strategy a team uses when the game is start. This is a shortened term for a Break Out or Break Out Plan.
Brick
A rectangular inflatable bunker shaped like a large construction brick. It is commonly seen on the fields in its"small" version, typically as a way to break up sections of the snake on a tournament field. However, there are "large" versions available as well.
A paintball marker which is broken and has been deemed not worth fixing by its owner.
A paintball marker which is broken and has been deemed not worth fixing by its owner.
Bunker
An obstacle on the field of play used to block opposing players' view and field of fire. Tournament Paintball bunkers are typically inflatable bunkers that have similar yet stronger qualities of other inflatable items such as inner tubes. Recreational bunkers come in a wide variety and are made from virtually anything available.
Bunkering
The action of one player eliminating another player hiding behind a bunker. This is usually achieved when the player behind the bunker is trapped, distracted, or preoccupied, allowing an opposing player to run up to the player's bunker and shoot directly over the bunker or around the side. This results in a player being shot from a relatively close distance with 2-3 paintballs. It is usually prohibited in recreational play at paintball fields, however, it is common within tournament paintball.
Bunker Hugging
Keeping one's body and barrel of the marker pressed against the a bunker to create a smaller profile and cut off as many possible angles the opposing players may have. This often relates to the way one is to play "tight" or play with the smallest possible profile.
Bunker Tag
When one player runs up to an opposing bunker and physically "tags" it to eliminate all players in or behind it. This rule is fairly common in recreational walk-on fields to limit bunkering against less-experienced players
BYOP
Bring Your Own Paint. Some fields and tournaments will offer a BYOP option.
C
Can
An inflatable paintball bunker which is tall and cylindrical. Also known as a "stand-up", "beer can", or "tower".
Car Wash
An inflatable paintball bunker that has a rectangular-shaped bottom and a top curved width-wise, resembling a very large can bunker cut in half and laid down on its side.
Chop
A paintball broken by the bolt engaging it before it is fully seated in the chamber (as opposed to a ball that is broken in the barrel). This is more common in inexpensive markers without anti-chop eye systems.
Circuit Board
A circuit board serves as the central electronic component of any electric paintball marker. The board contains or receives input from the trigger switch and controls actuation of the solenoid which commences a firing cycle. This board allows for a lighter and shorter trigger pull than most mechanical markers are capable of. Many stock and aftermarket boards will also allow for different firing modes, such as ramping, "rebound" (firing on pull and release) and fully-automatic modes. If so equipped, the board will also interpret a signal from the "eyes" of a marker and control the firing cycles accordingly.
Clustering
When a team clutters together to form a group of players. They can travel quickly by providing cover for themselves. This is a more common strategy used for larger groups participating in scenario paintball play.
Cocker
Slang for "Autococker" (a marker that uses external pneumatics to cycle the bolt and recock the hammer).
Condom
A slang term for a Barrel Sock.
D
Dry Firing
Discharging a marker without paintballs loaded.
Dead Box
The area where eliminated players are sent.
Dead Man Walking
A tactic, or the player applying it, in which they pretend to be eliminated without specifically confirming it, and shoot at opponents who they trick. Viewed as dishonorable by most players and against the rules of almost all tournaments.
Dorito
A triangular pyramid bunker, reminiscent of Doritos-brand tortilla chips.
Double Tap
To rapidly fire two shots at a target, increasing chances of a hit.
E
Eating Paint
When a player is shot in the mouthpiece of their mask and some paint breeches the mask ventilation porting or mask grills resulting in the player tasting or consuming some of the paint.
Eyes
A shortened name for Anti-Chop Eye system
Eggy
A slag term for the Viewloader Evolution paintball loader.
F
Fifty or 50
The middle line of a field, often used to refer to bunker positions, i.e. "fifty can" or "right fifty".
Fog
When moisture condenses on the lens of a paintball mask or goggle system and decreases the player's vision, resembling trying to look through heavy fog.
Forty
The line of bunkers one layer closer to the player than the middle of the field (the fifty). Preceded by the "thirty", "twenty", and "ten".
Front Player
The player who is positioned furthest in front of his or her team such as playing the snake on a tournament field. These players typically make aggressive moves, are the first to come in contact with opponents, and are often used to get into key locations. Front players may find themselves in positions with less field visibility and thus need to work together with back players for communication support, cover fire, and holding opposing positions so that they make advance further up the field.
G
- Ghillie Suit
A specialised camoflauge suit often used in woodsball, designed to blur the human form and provide physical camoflauge- reducing visibility.
Gogged
Being hit in mask, typically related to hits on the lens of the mask.
Grilled
Another term for eating paint. It is when a player is shot in the mouthpiece of their mask and some paint breeches the mask ventilation porting or mask grills resulting in the player tasting or consuming some of the paint.
Gun Whore
An individual who collects significantly more paintball markers than they use.
H
Harness
A waist pack or load-bearing vest used to carry pods, and sometimes an air tank or extra gear. Used interchangeably with pack.
Head Check
A quick look out from a bunker to get a better idea of the opponent's position.
Hopper
A container that sits on top of a paintball marker in which loose paintballs are held before falling into or being fed into the breech of the marker. It is a term often used interchangeably with "loader".
Hot
A bunker occupied by an opposing player.
A marker shooting faster than the velocity limit.
A marker shooting faster than the velocity limit.
I
Insert
A piece to a three-piece barrel which is honed to a specific bore size and slides into the back.
A versatile playing style which supports the front and back players, filling gaps where needed.
A versatile playing style which supports the front and back players, filling gaps where needed.
J
None.
None.
K
None.
L
Lane/Laning
Gaps between multiple bunkers that can be used to hit players running for a bunker. The act of landing refers to a game strategy where a player is shooting these gaps or lanes, typically off the break, to try an quickly eliminate an opposing player at the start of the game.
Lit Up
To be shot excessively or in an embarrassing manner.
Loader
A device that physically pushes paintballs sequentially into the breech of the marker, often used interchangeably with Hopper.
M
Marker
The main piece of equipment in the sport of paintball. These markers have two main types, Speedball and Woodsball. Markers use an expanding gas, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or compressed air, to propel paintballs through the barrel. Some paintball players refer to this piece of equipment as a "marker" rather than "gun". The term is derived from its original use as a means for forestry personnel and ranchers to mark trees and wandering cattle.
Marshal
An alternative name for a paintball referee, commonly used in European countries.
Mirror
The same bunker position that a player is currently in except on the opposite side of the field.
Milsim
An abbreviation of 'Military Simulation', referring to scenario paintball markers modelled on military weaponry.
Milling
The aesthetic design of the body of a paintball marker through the use of a milling machine that physically alters equipment.
Mod
Shortened term for Modifications. On online forums it is also a shortened term for Moderators.
Mow
To defeat an opponent or opposing team exceptionally well.
N
National Collegiate Paintball Association (NCPA)
The college paintball league may colleges that many American colleges and universities compete in. The league works closely with PSP, following similar format/rule changes such as rates of fire and the Race-To change. It strives to offer PSP-style competitive paintball to students without having to spend nearly as much as the other national leagues like PSP and NPPL, offering both a Class A X-ball format and Class AA 5man format. Class A retained a more traditional X-ball format unlike the new Race-to-4, 5, or 7 formats in PSP. However, as of the 2011-2012 season the NCPA changed the Class AA 5man format to a Race-to-2 5man format similar to that of PSP. While it specifies college within its name, the NCPA actually offers high school paintball, although it is not nearly as established as college paintball due to a variety of reasons.
Noob, Newb, Newbie
A new player. Generally speaking, "noob" is somewhat derogative, and "newbie" is used in a positive or neutral sense.
Noob Mistakes/Acting Like a Noob
Mistakes executed by a more experienced player that a newbie would most likely do out of inexperience or ignorance. This is often used to poke fun at someone's inability to properly shoot a paintball marker with both hands.Newer players not accustomed to using both hands in the sport will often shoot from the weak side while holding the marker in the dominant hand, using exaggerated body movements such as excessive leaning to shoot.
National Professional Paintball League (NPPL)
One of the major paintball leagues in the United States. This particular league focuses on the 7man format. One of the notable differences is that the NPPL is a no-ramping or semi-automatic league as opposed to the PSP and NCPA which are both ramping leagues.
O
OG
Abbreviation of "original gangster", a slang term usually referring to a piece of clothing/equipment or a person who has been in paintball for a long time.
Old School
A player or equipment that is considered to be from a previous era or "school of thought". Autocockers are a common example of markers considers to be "old school" since they were one of the first electronic markers used by professionals when the tournament paintball scene was first starting to form.
Overshoot
To continue firing at a player after they have indicated that they are eliminated. It is often executed with less malicious intent as bonus balling.
P
Pack
A waist pack or load-bearing vest used to carry pods, and sometimes an air tank or extra gear. Used interchangeably with harness.
Paint Check
Inspecting a player for hits, especially on hard-to-see areas such as a player's pack, mask, or head.
Paintballs
Spherical gelatin capsules containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye.
Paint
Short for "paintballs".
Pinch
A situation in which a player cannot move without being eliminated as they are being shot at from all sides of his or her bunker.
Playing On
Situations where a player will continue to act as a live player after they are hit, or wiping a hit off.
Pod
A plastic tube with a snap-closed lid that carries extra paintballs while on the field to refill the hopper. Most hold more than 100 (generally 140) paintballs.
Pod Thief
An individual who picks up pods left on the field without giving the owner a chance to retrieve them.
Private Label
Special or team editions of markers, distinguished by included upgrades, parts, and often unique milling or anodizing.
Point Blank
The act of shooting something or someone from a very, very short distance.
Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP)
One of the major national paintball leagues in America. It is the most popular league in the United States, where more fields offering PSP-formats as opposed to NPPL formats. This league allows ramping and sideline coaching and is known for its fast-paced X-ball format. However, over the years the PSP has made various rule changes, changing the X-ball format to a Race-to format where teams will play as many games in a certain time limit, racing to a certain amount of points as opposed to playing as many games within a certain time limit.
Pwn
A slang term used to refer to defeating an opponent or opposing team very well. Often used interchangeably with own.
Q
None.
None.
R
Race-To
The new PSP format that refers to a race to a specific number of points as opposed to traditional X-ball where teams play as many times as they can in a given time limit. Race-To still maintains the X-ball style of playing back-to-back games, however, the only difference is a point limit. Traditional X-ball divisions for PSP are now a range of Race-to-4 and up to Race-to-7 for the upper divisions. The PSP Race-to-2 5man format retained many similarities as the old PSP 5man X-ball format but with some slight changes and no more points based on certain game aspects (i.e. flag pulls, players shot out vs players alive, and flag hangs). PSP implemented the change a few years ago with the NCPA following suit with some of those format changes.
Ramping
A feature that allows the marker to fire faster than the trigger is being pulled. Previously found only on cheater boards, modern electronic markers include these features and more.
Referee/Ref
One who officiates and enforces the rules and regulations of the game. Ref is short for referee.
Remote
A coiled or braided-steel hose connecting the marker to the air source. Allows the player carry the tank on their harness rather than directly on the marker, reducing the weight of the marker. This is usually something people in scenario paintball use.
Revy
A slang term for a Viewloader Revolution electronic hopper.
Rollie
Roll
Consistently firing a marker at a high rate of fire (i.e. "rolling your gun").
Rope
A quickly-fired line of paintballs.
Run and Gun
Running towards a bunker whilst providing covering fire for yourself and attempting to shoot out any possible opposing players.
Run Through
S
Snake
A series of low-lying bunkers, often referred to as Beams, that are about the same length as a rollie but half the diameter. The beams are usually capped on one or both ends by various bunkers such as bricks, mini tombstones, pillows, and sometimes doritos. A paintball field is often separated between sides based on the key bunkers that occupy it. There are two sides of a paintball field: the snake-side that has the snake bunker setup and the latter being dorito-side, which obviously is named based on the doritos bunkers that line that area of the field.
Snap Battle
Two players attempting to snap shoot each other.
Snap Shooting
Leaning out of a bunker for a shot and returning quickly. The idea is to quickly lean out with the smallest possible profile and snap back behind the safety of the bunker. It is a skill that players use to gain control over certain situations, either trying to put an opposing player back into their bunker or shoot someone out in order to proceed with another move during the game.
Speedball
A variant of paintball designed for balanced, competitive play. Named after its fast games and action.
Spray or Splatter
Fill of a paintball hitting an object without it actually being struck by a ball. Often does not count as an elimination.
Streetball
Paintball played by those who do it simply for the love of the sport.
Superman Dive
A low, forearm dive used to move quickly underneath incoming paint.
Sweet Spot
When a player shoots a string of paint into an open area, hoping a player will move into the paint while finding cover.
A spot in the range of the trigger at which the mechanical vibration of the marker will cause the player to trip the trigger in and out of the activation point and fire very quickly.
A spot in the range of the trigger at which the mechanical vibration of the marker will cause the player to trip the trigger in and out of the activation point and fire very quickly.
T
Tank
Containers that hold the gas that powers paintball markers. In most cases the tank is screwed directly into the marker. See also: Remote.
Tape
The side boundaries of the field.
Timmy
Slang for a Bob Long Intimidator marker.
Tippy
Slang for any Tippmann marker.
Tombstone (bunker)
A rectangular-base bunker with a top curved along the long side. Manufactured in "tall" and "short" versions.
U
None.
None.
V
None.
None.
W
Walking
Using two or more fingers to rapidly drum the trigger, resulting in a higher rate of fire than normal trigger pulling can achieve. (i.e. "walking the trigger")
Walk On
A player who arrives the same day as a game with no prior reservation.
Wipe
Removing a hit before being called out. It is a topic heavily discussed within the paintball community as to whether or not it should be viewed as cheating or just another part of the game with consequences should one be caught.
Woodsball
A variant of paintball played in a natural setting with large boundries. Preferred for military simulation and Scenario Paintball situations.
Wrap
Leaning further out of one side of a bunker in order to shoot toward the opposite side of the field. Faster than moving to the other side of the bunker, and often done after forcing an opponent down.
X
X (bunker)
An inflatable standing paintball bunker that is in the shape of an X. Standard sized X bunkers are commonly the center bunker on a speedball field. Due to their large size and lack of function after a certain height, the Paintball Sports Promotions paintball league opted to remove the top half of the X bunker because it wasn't even being played. This new bunker is still commonly referred to as the X or the A.
X-ball
A variation of speedball, that has a giant X Bunker in the center of the field. Generally a center flag game, with the flag on either the right or left side of the X bunker where teams of five players per side attempt to take the center flag to the opposing team's start box. It is a variation of speedball that has various formats within the PSP league and many other PSP-affiliated leagues.
Y
None.
None.
Z
None.
None.