Why I am DOWNGRADING my gun!

[spazdr]

I was surfing the pump forums and thinking about how expensive paintball was and I got inspired. I don't want to spend the money to buy a pump gun to force me to focus on improving my skill and strategy in paintball. So I am going to downgrade my gun to encourage me to shoot less. I replaced my 12v rev with a normal hopper; so I better shoot slower or I will chop balls, I replaced my double trigger on my 98 custom with the stock single trigger, I am not going to use my redz harness; limiting my paintball usage to a maximium of one hopper full for every two games. And I will try to use less paintballs then that.
The advantages of doing this is that my shooting ability will improve, my timing and strategy will improve, I will always be ready to shoot because I won't have to reload, I will increase my mobility by not carrying a harness, and decrease my profile by not carrying a harness. All this and saving money, why doesn't everyone do this. Simply it decreases your firepower and firepower is fun. Oh well, I think focusing on my skill will be more satisfying then my ability to spend more cash per second. yo

[firemoth]

Good for you.

[F355DUDE]

I am in the same situation as you. I think I might do the same.

[Codestar20]

That is good. It's nice to see some players like that.

Of course I won't be doing the same :D

[mikek2111987]

i would have just lost the harness rather then changeing parts:|

[MINDofSIN]

Play against some skilled. merciless tourney players with electros...

[Metz]

i never have used a harness and i don't plan to (unless i am ever in a tourney). i only need 200 balls to accomplish my goal and if i run out, i'm SOL:o i don't have the money to buy a whole lotta paint what with my other hobbies, savin for a car, and other little neccesities;) of course i'm just a rec player and if i were playin for big $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ i wouldn't mind using 1000 balls a game.

[Crime Dog]

I applaud ya spaz. I'm the same type of player. Let me preface this all by saying this however:

There's a role for the heavy shooters, and there's a role for the surgical shooters. They both have important parts (especially in rec games), and so I won't dis either type of player. For those of you that like to spray paint like there's no tomorrow...thank you! Thank you for keeping heads down and raining terror down on your opponents.

But thank you to those that are careful and deadly with their few shots as well. Nothing strikes fear into an opponent like not knowing where a single or even double shot came from.

I'm the surgical type myself. I don't carry a harness or extra pods either. One 200 round hopper...that's it. I've considered even using a BE 45 round hopper at times...but I figure if I get caught in a firefight, the 200 is nice to have.

But anyways...I'm the same spaz. Low profile...sneaking around much more...deliberate, calculating, strategic. And shooting little...makes your heart pound harder, hoping you won't get caught sneaking around the flanks and up the rears of your opponents position. It's a rush. Then laying down those very few shots you have to take. If you can do it without getting caught, my hats off to you. I'm still working on it...

[FlyBoyNZ]

I am the surgical type, even in speedball, i neak up to an empty enemy bunker and pick them off. I have a STS G3 w/ Lapco Bigshot and a daisy red dot sight (its great!)

[PiRaNhA69]

yeah i am doing the same thing.i only use my pods only for a quick reload off the field.anyways im doing that b/c all the tourneys are hopper ball for me.

[coyote]

One small problem...

"Shooting less" does not make you a better shot. Becoming a better shot allows you to shoot less. Often times I burn more paint practicing than I do playing.

[Paint Bulley]

I think it's fun to see how many times you can get shot... all time record is like 12 breaks and about 20 hits, when it was just one on one... :) :)

if i run out of paint who cares... it's just a game...

But if I was in a tourney... I would care ;)

[DasBaldDog]

I actually like the logic there.

Skill before gun....

[simon woodstock]

i had a similar problem, i was getting low on money because of tourney, paint, and regular field admissions, i could never shoot less paint. i just got a job :D paradise mini-golf for life! if you're in the napa area come visit me and play 18 holes, it's a challenging par 63 :D

[spazdr]

Ya, I have a job. But if I can save $30 every time while improving my skills faster and while getting more satisfaction out of my improvement; I am going to do it.

[Crime Dog]

*nods* Kudos to spaz. I agree.

[snipinhick]

ah... i bought my original phantom to do the same. But i had only shot rentals before hand... i never was to conservitive with ammo, and the inacuracy of the pro-lites was no big help... Good thought process.

[mjkocker]

I think you should shoot what you need. Whether thats ten balls a game or a 1000 and your play shouldnt be affected by your income outside the game. If you have two identical players in skill and one is trying to conserve paint in a one on one bunker match then more then likely the guy whos not trying to conserve will get more shots off with more of a chance to hit his opponet. Second i play alot of tourneys so im accustomed to shooting alot of paint but i also play rec ball at least 4 times month. I buy a full case no matter what if i have some left over then i can use them next time i go so overbuying is not a problem. What ive noticed is whether im trying to conserve or not i basically shoot the same amount anyway. Like for example one game ill play and wont really get alot of action so i only shoot about 20 balls then the next game illl be gettin hammered on from all directions and use 500 but it all evens out in the end. Well at least for me. Now imagine you were gettin hammered from all directions and you limited yourself to 100 balls a game like your trying to do its very likely that you would overshoot your limit anyway and with the slower fire rate it doesnt help any when someone is charging you with a angel does it? All im saying is dont make your gun worse and shoot slower you may need it in a certain situation but just only shoot what you need you will have a better time save just as much money and not be frustrated when you get lit up by a electro. If you need to only play once a month instead of twice to afford to shoot more paint do it at least you know that you will be playing at your best and having the most fun possible and not worrying about finaces during paintball.

[snipinhick]

its a game.... i would choose my income over the possible outcome of one game. If i get hammerd from all sides and only have 100 balls and run out... OH WELL. I never looked at it as a life or death situation... right now money is more important then winning a GAME.

[EvilPopTart]

When I first saw your thread, I was thinking... "WHAT A LOSER!" But then I read the Drama of your post and figured I was in the same position. I got a very nice Autococker and I found myself with almost no money. I had 50 bucks, not even enough to buy a case of brass eagle paint. Then I made the smartest move of my career. I invested 10 dollars into a pump kit. When I'm in a pinch money wise, I pull out my pump rod out of the closet, I do the nessesary adjustments, and I play. I've calculated that that 10 dollars i spent saved me over 5 0 0 dollars over the period of 2 years. I love my Autococker almost like a brother and I could never downgrade it. I just play smarter, and I limit myself. Now as part-Staff at my local field, I now don't care if I run out of paint. I can do something else fun like refing some a n00b group. Also another skill improving exersise, I play without a gun. At our field, we have an alternative to bunkering in rec ball called bunker tag. Instead of wasting a newbie, one can just touch the newbies bunker instead. I play without a gun sometimes and this really teaches how to use your skill and cunning.

So enjoy your paintball time no matter if you spend loads of money because paintball is one of the better things in life.

[MeGotzGriffin]

i did the same thing...i downgraded kinda...i went to a pump even though i still use my baby grif...but on my hammer im gonna use just my 9 oz. and the 45 rounder cause youre right paintball does cost a lot of money...you hear how pball has dropped in cost soo much over the past 10-15 years but still today...a decent semi will make you drop around 120-130 bucks and then you gotta get all the upgrades (barrel, x chamber, tank, mask) and add on another 75-100 dollars...thats a lot of money considering us teenage punks w/ no job...lol...but its a good idea to downgrade until youre ready for a job and then you can drop the big dough for the nice stuff...(i can't wait for that first paycheck...hello new barrel!!!) but for all the newbies out there you can always upgrade and you dont always need the most expensive coolest looking stuff right off the bat...thats my 2 cents see yall at the 50'

[blinkpk11]

iono bout you guys, but for me when i schrimmage or play a tourny, im shooting a full hopper off the brake every game. i guess thats one of the sacrifices you have to make to play in the back...

[pbrush]

:) Im a HEAVY shooter. Besides, im to addicted to this great game game to care about how much i spend. its worth it.