When playing a round of speedball, most beginners are paralyzed by fear of being hit. They stay behind a bunker or they will only move a few times, and then, sure enough, what they feared happens. In paintball, if all you think about is what your opponents are going to do, you will be an easy target that is easily eliminated. Many rookie teams rank low because of this. An all or nothing attitude, go all out and fully committed is the only way you will do well in paintball competition. Beyond the movement strategies you developed with your team, all tournament paintball athletes should have a particular individual strategy in mind at all times. This is always moving forward. As soon as the match starts, you should be plotting and pressing for your next position to force your opponent into a defensive state and attempt to immobilize him. To do this, you must use all possible physical tools, including sprinting, jumping, diving, and of course sliding. Mastering the art of the slide will be one of your most important maneuvers and a great advantage that you will use constantly.

There are three main slides that are used in paintball, the pop-up slide, the Superman slide, and the side slide. The pop-up slide is typically used to advance into a bunker in front of you or diagonally from you. To perform the pop-up slide, start running towards the bunker you want to reach, drop your rear leg to the ground, keep forward momentum and front leg pointing forward, stay sliding on your rear leg until you reach your destination. One of the great keys to successfully pulling this slide is to keep your head and marker up, not pointing to the ground. Once it reaches its bunker, it will suddenly pop out of its back leg and stand on its feet. This slide helps you fall 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 get to the bunker ready to shoot your opponents whom you mistook by suddenly disappearing and then reappearing elsewhere. Defensively, the Pop-Up Slide is ideal for ducking under fire and getting behind the safety of a bunker.

The Superman Slide is often reserved for players trying to enter the snake-shaped bunker. This slide usually comes out of pause as soon as you hear the buzzer. Start the Superman Slide by running towards the snake, again keeping your head and gun up as you run. As you approach the bunker, begin to squat down and slowly move your center of gravity toward the ground, sliding into a slide across the front of your belly; DO NOT jump and land upside down. When you start to fall forward, make sure your gun’s air tank is under your armpit, NOT directly over your shoulder or it could cause injury like a dislocation. When you are level with the ground, extend your forearms toward the ground, sliding them toward the snake. This slide helps you get into the snake as quickly and efficiently as possible. When entering the snake on a superman slide, it is important to avoid sticking the barrel of your marker into the ground. If your barrel digs into the ground, it can damage your weapon or, at the very least, block the barrel with dirt. To prevent this from happening, try keeping your palms up towards the sky. This may seem a bit awkward at first, but practice will make it more natural.

The side slide is best used for maneuvering into bunkers that are horizontal to you. To perform the 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. Stay gliding until you reach the bunker, then lift your rear leg up and off the ground. You can also use the heel in front of you to slow down as you approach the bunker you are sliding into. This slide is similar to the pop-up slide in all respects except the front leg orientation; in the side version, your front leg should point to the side you are sliding. Use this maneuver to evade incoming fire and move faster towards the bunker without being hit.

A great 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 stay active in firing your gun while taking slides. This takes practice, but if you can incorporate sliding into much of your movement, it will be very difficult to hit it; firing as you do 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 down at the ground for an extended 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 gliding is primarily a speedball-specific maneuver. Woodsball grounds are rarely played on flat surfaces and often have rocks and stems sticking out of the ground, making sliding impossible.

Another tip to achieve winning gliding maneuvers is to wear a good pair of paintball pants. This garment is made specifically for this type of game and can really make a difference not only in better gliding performance but also in protection. Most paintball pants are made with a very durable ripstop material so they can withstand the abrasive abuse that regular sliding will cause without tearing. For gliding, the best paintball pants have a slick sheen to help reduce ground friction for faster movement. Most good paintball pants are also equipped with additional material or padded cells sewn into strategic locations such as the knees, shins, buttocks, and hips to make softer landings 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 real maneuvering without getting hurt. Once you’ve mastered them, start practicing them while carrying and finally firing your weapon. Once you have this skill in place, start practicing to develop your shooting accuracy while gliding. It is better to learn to slide on a smooth or even slippery surface so that you can master it. Just remember that practice does not make perfect, only correct practice makes perfect. If you feel like you’re not getting your slides right, 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.