New to Iowa, Got some ????

WildOne · 09-10-2012, 08:00 PM

I moved to Iowa a little over a year ago and have alot of free time on the weekends to burn, so i'm looking at getting back into paintball. I used to play a lot 5-6 years ago, pretty much everyweekend. Had to stop do to money and school. Just looking for a spot to get back into the rush of speedball and pick up some gear. I left what little gear i had left back in Alabama. I am in Marshalltown, so 45min to Des Moines and 1hr to Waterloo. So breaking it down my questions are:

Best store to pick up gear?
Best fields to play (speedball)?
Any other helpful info?

I'm willing to drive 1-2hrs.

I used to run with a 2k3 Lasoya Timmy, and egg w/ y-board. I'd like to get back into a setup with the same feel as that.

Thanks in advance.

Da Griz · 09-10-2012, 09:20 PM

KW Paitnabll in Waterloo is where i play and get most of my gear

dodgeballers_ia · 09-10-2012, 09:39 PM

There are 2 fields in Des Moines area. Archery Field in Altoona and ICU in Des Moines. ICU does have a pro sho. Both are speedball fields. ICU is an indoor with fresh turf and has all skill levels and Archery is an outdoor field and home to New Jack City a Div 3 team ( Don't kill me Brad if I got your ranking wrong lol ).

Castro #66 · 09-10-2012, 09:40 PM

Both ICU Paintball (indoor field, full pro shop) and Archery Field and Sports reside in the Des Moines area.

Don't forget to use PbNation's Field Finder linked at the top of every page!

EDIT: Beat me to it.

WildOne · 09-10-2012, 09:53 PM

Yeah I checked the field finder. Just didn't want to drive out to a shop and find a wall full of tippmans (not that there's something wrong with that, just not my speed) lol. Just looking for a quality shop with staff that know what they are talking about. May just end up looking around for someone trying to unload a backup marker.

Castro #66 · 09-10-2012, 09:57 PM

You can't go wrong with ICU. There isn't a comparable shop in central Iowa.

WildOne · 09-10-2012, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castro #66

You can't go wrong with ICU. There isn't a comparable shop in central Iowa.

Cool, thanks. Any heads up on what markers are reliable these days? From past experiences i prefer quality and reliability.

Castro #66 · 09-10-2012, 10:12 PM

Everything has gone up in reliability, really, that's a hard question to answer. A lot of players will swear by Eclipse these days, but everything requires maintenance, as I'm sure you're aware.

Truthfully, midrange guns and 3-4 year old highends are as good as anything companies have to offer these days in terms of putting paint down field. Gun selection isn't what it used to be.

WildOne · 09-10-2012, 10:16 PM

That is good to know. Will make selection a bit easier. Timmys still holding up these days? Looks like the ego may have the same feel.

Castro #66 · 09-10-2012, 10:25 PM

Bob Long's best gun is probably the G6R, which is the closest you'll get to a modern Timmy. He's got an inline poppet system as well known as the Victory or Marq series, but it isn't as popular, so I don't see much of them for comparison.

There are a lot of guns out there right now that will have a similar feel to them, so again it boils down to personal preference. Ultimately, with ramping you're shooting the same paint at the same rate with the same general accuracy (don't believe anything different) as everyone else. Guns that are now 10 years old can still make it out and compete with the right care and parts. Technology is better than it's ever been!

Meanwhile, some players are switching back to pump.

MyJTRox · 09-11-2012, 08:58 AM

Don't leave out the Axe. $500 or a little less brand new, and you can even pick some up lightly used for under $400. Pros are winning events with these things. I'm on my 3rd one, just because I got bored with color. I'll never get bored with the price.

ArchAngelIon · 09-11-2012, 01:16 PM

I just moved to DSM.

Archery is legit. Official event layouts are always fun to play.

Winchester · 09-11-2012, 01:49 PM

Archery is very good and fun when it is weather applicable to play outside, has many products on hand that you may need or want.

ICU is great fun indoors play great to get back in the swing of things this winter with a great pro shop and fun helpers.

I know when i started back up after a college hiatus i went to icu for awhile played and meet some new people and then when spring came around i visited Archery for outdoor play.
As for guns I randomly had boughten e-tek off of craigslist for $200 and it worked great and moved up to a ego and it works like a wet dream and hasnt once had an issue i play/practice than its in my gear bag and dont look at it again til next time i play and it works flawless. i would suggest a nice planet eclispe marker in whatever is in your price range i know a few local players have some they wanna get rid of

WildOne · 09-11-2012, 03:44 PM

I've been looking at the ego a good bit. If anyone knows someone that's trying to unload one that is in good shape have them PM me. 07 and newer if possible. As for price range, if the marker is in good shape and is worth the price I don't mind paying it lol.

I think i'll make the drive to DSM this sunday and check out the fields and shops.

lordevan · 09-11-2012, 03:53 PM

Archery is where you will find the toughest competition in central iowa. They are kind of finicky about when they are actually open. A lot of time they don't decide until friday/sat if they setup for sunday. Iowa State University also have their own field in Ames, IA.

eatmeat · 09-12-2012, 12:31 PM

Hello,
My name is brad and I'm the decider on when the archery speedball field is up and when we have practice. We are selective on when we set up and best way to find out is to check our Facebook page (link in my sig) if there is a large tournament we don't set up, if it's 100 deg's out we don't set up, if a OG is getting married (like this weekend) we don't open. If no one calls me and want to come play and it sounds like there is only going to be 5 people there we don't open.

But when we are open we have the software to run xball matches at practice, we offer a full size xball field with a guy who is really good at gridding out fields (me) free waters and hotdogs and a full environment to come out and grind!

Follow NJC on Facebook and post on there saying you want to come and bring some friends and I'll set her up, just not this weekend.

Thanks for reading
Love
Brad

ArchAngelIon · 09-12-2012, 12:42 PM

Weekend after sounds legit.

PM'd you on some pawnshop ish.

Jesus Brad, a 2k2 account? Certified OG.

Guapofox · 09-12-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatmeat

Hello,
My name is brad and I'm the decider on when the archery speedball field is up and when we have practice. We are selective on when we set up and best way to find out is to check our Facebook page (link in my sig) if there is a large tournament we don't set up, if it's 100 deg's out we don't set up, if a OG is getting married (like this weekend) we don't open. If no one calls me and want to come play and it sounds like there is only going to be 5 people there we don't open.

But when we are open we have the software to run xball matches at practice, we offer a full size xball field with a guy who is really good at gridding out fields (me) free waters and hotdogs and a full environment to come out and grind!

Follow NJC on Facebook and post on there saying you want to come and bring some friends and I'll set her up, just not this weekend.

Thanks for reading
Love
Brad

Because of this guy right here, teams in central Iowa have a legit place to practice and improve during the summer. Archery is a quality field with quality competition as proven last weekend. Congratulations to NJC on their 2012 Vicious Series championship! Detox can't wait to get in some grind sessions and help NJC out once the World Cup layout is released.

Becci · 09-12-2012, 02:57 PM

Todd, congrats to you guys too!! I heard from several people on Sunday that you guys played really well! Wish we could have been there Saturday, but you know we had to watch the big game, as disappointing as it was...

Guapofox · 09-12-2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becci

Todd, congrats to you guys too!! I heard from several people on Sunday that you guys played really well! Wish we could have been there Saturday, but you know we had to watch the big game, as disappointing as it was...

The only team we lost to all day was AAF...and had we had another 30 seconds, we would've forced overtime both matches. Oh well...things to work on. You would be proud that we remembered to thank Archery Field and Sports in our 3rd place acceptance speech.

Becci · 09-12-2012, 03:14 PM

Well thanks!! Brad forgot to say it in his lol!!