How do you afford to play?

kamdog211 · 08-20-2012, 07:26 PM

So I'm a family man and on a pretty tight budget. I am getting back into paintball after about 6 years. I mostly played woods ball back then which didn't require a lot of money.

I am wondering how you guys afford to play in tournaments? I mean, field fees run around $15-$25. Field paint ($40 for the cheap stuff and $50 and up for the good stuff). So your looking at $70 to 100 bucks to practice with a team once a week or so. Then there is keeping up with the newest markers and other paintball gear and travel cost.

So, how do you guys afford it? Is this your only hobby? Do you have a second job? Beg? Borrow?

Thanks,

cptnemo66 · 08-20-2012, 07:35 PM

Tourney play can get expensive. Like you Im back after 10 years. But I played the tourney game before I left. You get a field to sponsor your team. You work for the field in exchange for free play, paint at cost, ect. We were really good with the owner of our field that he also paid our tourney entry fee's and got us a deal with Raven(old company) for all our soft goods & 32 Degree's for paint. Its really hard to play any type of traveling series with out help. Start small at local fields and hope to make friends. Its all about networking, you dont have to be the best at paintball. We won a tourney at our local field first, then just kept showing up, bringing friends, hanging out with his other sponsored teams, almost working for him before he offered to pick up our team. It really was like a second job. Also in the beggining look for fields that have team pratice days. Most of the time the fee's are less or none and the paint is always cheaper.

Rebel_816 · 08-21-2012, 12:19 AM

started practicing with trying to use only a hopper and pod per game unless it was absolutely necesarry to use more. (i.e., super long drawn out game where we are down numbers and need to play defensive). that ended up saving me quite a bit of paint throughout the day since it forced me to learn and make moves and make shots count. there were lots of times i ended up still having half a case at the end of the day.

also i dont bother keeping up with the latest and greatest marker. not a whole lot has changed in the last 4-5 years, i tend to pic a gun i think ill really like and stick with it for a long time. if something works, why get rid of it?

some fields also have a season pass or membership, ours did which waved the $15 for field and air fees, and gave a 10% discount on anything in the shop. might want to see if thats an option if you know you are going to be playing a lot. it was really nice for us only having to pay for paint at $37 per case. (normally about $45)

carpool there if you can.

eforce · 08-21-2012, 12:28 AM

If you want to play competitively without spending a lot of money, buy used equipment and only play local tournaments. There's no cheap way to play national events without good sponsorships, even if you're winning.

kamdog211 · 08-21-2012, 07:10 AM

Thanks for all of the advise. My friends and I looked into this a while back and the economics of playing tournaments just seem unfeasible. Also, it was a little difficult to get a group of guys committed to practicing on a weekly or semi-weekly basis not even counting the money it takes to practice.

Also, around where I live at, there does not seem to be many PB fields that have tournaments. We'd have to drive 1.5 -2 hours to get anywhere with a larger PB population.

Thanks!

SupaSteve20 · 08-21-2012, 07:37 AM

if you wanna play and save money dont come to Long island. Our local field charges 30 bux for entry and 85 for a case of paint. There were only 2 fields to begin with and one of them closed so they have been jacking up their prices. Horrible for the game and i noticed a drop off in people playing. I have definatley slowed down from once a week to once a month sadly.

kamdog211 · 08-21-2012, 07:55 AM

It's not easy in Richmond, VA either. A lot of places have closed down and the fields that are sort of close (30 minutes or so) are mostly designed for woods ball (which I also love).

I guess tournament play may not be in the cards right now.

PumpStalker · 08-21-2012, 08:21 AM

Not to hijack the thread but if playing tournament paintball isn't feasible and you still want to play every week, why not try out Pump? You can play on a bag of paint all day so a case of paint should last you all month, if not longer. If you've never tried it, it's definitely worth a shot.

HateEverything · 08-21-2012, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PumpStalker

If you've never tried it, it's definitely worth a shot.

punny

kamdog211 · 08-21-2012, 08:52 AM

I have looked into pump and even just pistols before. The problem is none of my other friends are into it.

I almost don't want to say it here on PbNation but I've even looked into "airsoft"....

TommyTwoToes · 08-21-2012, 09:01 AM

honestly, I work 3 jobs.
(mainly because of child support) but I afford to play paintball as well.
Pump would be a cheap route to take for tournys
but I would find a team, and try to get some sponsorships to help out with the costs. Paint is pretty expensive as is a good marker and field fee etc.
I play pretty cheaply, I can probably go to a field and spend 40 for the entire day (not counting food/drink)
Some fields may give you a discount on paint if you are there a lot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupaSteve20

if you wanna play and save money dont come to Long island. Our local field charges 30 bux for entry and 85 for a case of paint. There were only 2 fields to begin with and one of them closed so they have been jacking up their prices. Horrible for the game and i noticed a drop off in people playing. I have definatley slowed down from once a week to once a month sadly.

That is insane. I would never play at that field.
Most fields I have ever been to charge 5 - 15 for field (with all day air)
and 40 - 60 for paint

kamdog211 · 08-21-2012, 10:15 AM

I think that's my problem locally, is that to play for a day, it's going to cost upwards of 60 to 80 depending on paint cost which to me is the biggest factor in price after you get your gear setup. If paint were half the price, I would be playing a lot more.

Now if my son starts playing a few years from now, I might have to take out a loan.

Icon0clast · 08-21-2012, 10:29 AM

I have a job.

TommyTwoToes · 08-21-2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamdog211

I think that's my problem locally, is that to play for a day, it's going to cost upwards of 60 to 80 depending on paint cost which to me is the biggest factor in price after you get your gear setup. If paint were half the price, I would be playing a lot more.

Now if my son starts playing a few years from now, I might have to take out a loan.

yeah, but having a son to play with would be awesome. I work 3 jobs to cover paintball and child support expenses.

you could always pack water/food so you aren't spending it there.
Paint, you might be able to buy in bulk online and have it shipped to you if its BYOP type of field. If your kid starts to play, good luck affording that.
I would bet most fields have deals on paint if you are a common player on a field, maybe cheaper field fee. Its worth asking your local field

Cooper13 · 08-21-2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupaSteve20

if you wanna play and save money dont come to Long island. Our local field charges 30 bux for entry and 85 for a case of paint. There were only 2 fields to begin with and one of them closed so they have been jacking up their prices. Horrible for the game and i noticed a drop off in people playing. I have definatley slowed down from once a week to once a month sadly.

wOW!!! shut that place down...theyre stealing from our people!

Cooper13 · 08-21-2012, 11:05 AM

youll just have to budget for paintball...im a snake player and i use a half a case of paint for a 4 hour practice...we have our own practice field and our own scuba for air so that stuff is free..if you know anyone with an abundance of land ask if you can set up a 2d course...but mainly its just money management..paintball is expensive unfortunately and thats why it drives alot of people away..good luck man

Empire's Ghost · 08-21-2012, 11:08 AM

Get a few jobs, have an electro and a pump, play pump.

Elrondel · 08-21-2012, 11:15 AM

In Houston, there are a few fields, but one of them (Paintball Bonanza) charges $22.50 for entry and $100 per case of paint.
kill it with fire

kamdog211 · 08-21-2012, 11:32 AM

$122.50 to play? That's crazy. At that price, I'd be looking into finding woods to play in and just getting scuba tanks to fill.

TommyTwoToes · 08-21-2012, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elrondel

In Houston, there are a few fields, but one of them (Paintball Bonanza) charges $22.50 for entry and $100 per case of paint.
kill it with fire

oh hell no. How is that place still open?

eforce · 08-21-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TommyTwoToes

oh hell no. How is that place still open?

There's a reason the prices are set like that. It influences the client base and the experience each customer gets when they play. Chris Raehl has a great writeup on this floating around somewhere, but the idea is that higher prices push away the troublesome kids and reduce the number of times players get shot, giving them a better experience.