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When playing a round of speedball, most beginners become paralyzed by the fear of getting hit. They stay behind a bunker or only move a few times, and then sure enough, exactly what they feared happens. In paintball, if all you think about is what your opponents are going to do, you’ll be an easy target to take down. Many rookie teams are ranked lower because of this. An all or nothing, go for broke, fully committed attitude is the only way you will do well in paintball competition. Regardless of the movement strategies you establish with your team, all tournament paintball athletes should keep a particular individual strategy in mind at all times. This is always moving forward. As soon as the match starts, you should be planning and pushing for your next position to force your opponent onto the defensive and try to pin them down. To do this, you need to use all possible physical tools, including sprinting, jumping, diving and, of course, sliding. Mastering the art of sliding will be one of your most important maneuvers and a great advantage that you will use constantly.
There are three main slides used in paintball, the pop-up slide, the Superman slide, and the side slide. The popup slide is normally used to advance to a bunker in front of you or diagonally towards you. To perform the Pop-Up Slide, start running towards the bunker you wish to reach, drop your back leg to the ground, keeping momentum forward and your front leg pointing forward, keep sliding on your back leg until you reach your destination. One of the big keys to successfully performing this slide is to keep your head and marker up, not pointing to the ground. Once he reaches his bunker, he will suddenly jump off his back leg and stand up. This slide helps you get down out of sight of your opponents and travel to a new location very quickly. When done correctly, you should be on your feet when you reach the bunker ready to shoot your opponents whom you just confused by suddenly disappearing and then reappearing elsewhere. Defensively, the pop-up slide is ideal for ducking under fire and climbing behind the safety of a bunker.
The Superman Slide is often reserved for players trying to get into the snake bunker. This slide is usually right after the break as soon as you hear the chime. Begin the slide of Superman running towards the snake, again keeping your head and gun up as he runs. As he approaches the bunker, he begins to crouch and slowly move his center of gravity toward the ground, sliding his hands forward; DO NOT jump and land upside down. As you begin to fall forward, make sure your gun’s air tank is under your armpit, NOT directly over his shoulder or you could cause injuries like a dislocation. When you’re at ground level, extend your forearms to the ground, sliding on them toward the snake. This slide helps you get into the snake as quickly and efficiently as possible. When entering the snake into a Superman slide, it’s important to avoid sticking the barrel of your marker into the ground. If your barrel digs into the ground, you can damage your gun or at the very least block the barrel with dirt. To prevent this from happening, try to keep your palms facing the sky. This may seem a bit awkward at first, but practice will make it more natural.
The side slide is best used to maneuver into bunkers that are horizontal towards you. To side slide, move left or right in the direction of the bunker you want to reach. As you approach the bunker, drop your back leg to the ground while keeping your front leg sideways toward the bunker. Continue sliding until you reach the bunker, then lift your back leg up and lift off the ground. You can also use the heel in front of you to slow down as you approach the bunker you’re sliding into. This slide is similar to the Pop-up Slide in all respects except for the orientation of the front leg; in the lateral version, the front leg should point to the side you are sliding down. Use this maneuver to evade incoming fire and move faster to the bunker without getting hit.
A big key on all slides is to always keep one foot on the ground (except on the Superman slide); this ensures that you can get back on your feet as quickly as possible. Another important aspect is to remain active by firing your weapon while performing slides. This takes practice, but if you can incorporate slides into much of your movement, it will be very difficult to hit; shooting while doing so will turn every time you move into an offensive maneuver. It is also important to always keep your eyes on the field and never look at the ground for a long period of time. This is so you can keep track of your opponent’s every move as you move in case you need to make adjustments to your plan. It should be noted that sliding is a primarily speedball-specific maneuver. Woodsball grounds are rarely played on flat surfaces, and often have rocks and stumps sticking out of the ground, making sliding impossible.
Another tip for winning slide maneuvers is to wear a good pair of paintball pants. This clothing is made specifically for this type of game and can really make a difference not only in better sliding performance but also in protection. Most paintball pants are made from a highly durable ripstop material so they can withstand the abrasive abuse that regular slides cause without tearing. For sliding, the best paintball pants have a slippery sheen that helps reduce ground friction for faster movement. Most good paintball pants are also equipped with additional material or padded cells sewn into strategic places like the knees, shins, buttocks, and hips to make landings softer and prevent injury.
The best way to master the art of sliding is to practice. First start practicing your slides without your paintball gun so you can get good at the actual maneuver without getting hurt. Once you have them, start practicing them while loading and eventually firing your weapon. Once you have this skill, start practicing to develop your shooting accuracy while sliding. It is best to learn how to slide on a smooth or even slippery surface so that you can master it. Just remember that practice doesn’t make perfect, only the right practice makes perfect. If you feel like you’re not performing your slides correctly, ask an advanced player; most would be happy to help. Mastering these slides will give you a clear competitive advantage over your opponents and make you a better player.