I have an old beat up Brass Eagle Talon pump with a custom pink fade (I spray painted it myself). I take it out to some of my local fields whenever the mood hits me. The truth is, I have a lot of fun with it, too.
My Talon does not shoot very far and it is really hard to pump, but when I get an elimination it feels awesome (even more so if they laughed at me or called me a newbie). Playing with the Talon changes the way I play. I talk a whole lot more and focus on getting my teammates to move and to talk. I find that I get to know a lot of the regular players rather quickly and by the end of the day we are usually playing some rocking paintball.
Knowing all that, you can see why it's easy for me to answer this player's question: "I've been
paintballing for two years. I have one of the worst markers ever made. I go to fields and see that everyone has a better marker than I do. I have very little money. Some people laugh at me and call me a newbie. What do I do?"
My point is simple: you have to play what you were dealt. No matter what marker you get landed with, focus on your other talents, and take this opportunity to grow some new skills. This really will better your game.
That's my practical but "feel good" advice. You probably want more, right? Okay. I would first look at the marker I had and see what improvements I could make. I suggest trying better paint if you use the low end stuff. A new barrel makes all the difference in the world, too, and there are many upgrades that can help get any marker up to speed.
Remember, looks don't matter. It is all about performance. If I can shoot my paint accurately, I am happy.
If you can't afford to improve your marker, look at earning some extra cash. The best way to do this (and stay around paintball) is try to get a job at your local field. Even working one day a month can get you into a new marker in a couple of months. Today's inexpensive markers from major manufacturers are worth their weight in gold. Hang in there and don't get discouraged.
Kristen "Lady Attitude" writes from southern California, where she produces the Old School Challenge, www.oldschoolchallenge.com.
