Paintball Glossary

To talk like a pro you need to learn the lingo

Anti-Siphon - A special bulk CO2 tank that’s made to prevent the gun from sucking liquid.

Barrel Tag/Tap Out - When a player is close enough to an opponent to touch them with the barrel of their marker to physically tag the player. This act is considered an elimination.

Barrel Smoothie - Refers to excess broken paint that drips from your marker barrel after paintballs have broken inside of it.

Bonus Ball - Hits a player takes after being eliminated. Sometimes referred to as "Extra Love" and "Bonus Ball Loving" and may result in penalties.

Bounce - When a paintball strikes a player but doesn’t break.

Bunker (noun) - An obstacle on the playing field that’s used to block the opponent’s view and field of fire.

Bunker (verb) - The elimination of a player hiding behind a bunker.

Bunker Bitch - A player who spends more time than necessary behind a bunker. These players make getting cover their highest priority.

Bunker Hugging - Keeping the barrel of your marker up against the side of a bunker to make the smallest profile possible, while still allowing you to shoot. Usually works best with longer barrels.

Caveman - A rogue-like player who does his own thing on the field, but keeps an especially low profile.

Covering Fire - When a player moves to another area while the enemy is in the area, the player will call out, "cover me," or "cover fire."

Clustering - When an entire team clusters together to form a group.

Chop - When a paintball is cut in half inside the marker's chamber. It creates a mess which prevents the marker from shooting accurately until it’s cleaned.

Chop a Snake - A process in which one player will fire over the head of an opponent located behind a snake, pinning him down, while another will advance along the length of the snake eliminating the opponent.

Chronograph - A device used to measure the velocity of a paintball from the gun. The safe maximum speed of a paintball is 300 feet per second.

CO2 or Carbon Dioxide - The compressed gas used to power markers.

Condom - Also called a barrel condom, barrel bag, and barrel cover. It’s a safety device that covers the front of the marker barrel to prevent anyone being shot by mistake.

Darting - When you run quickly from obstacle to obstacle while under fire.

Dead Man Walking - When you pretend to be eliminated, but keep shooting opponents. This is seen as dishonorable by most players, and illegal in most tournaments.

Eating Paint - When a player doesn’t care when they’re struck by a flurry of paintballs.

Execution - A rare penalty in which a rule breaker is shot in the back or other sensitive area at pointblank range.

Feeder - A larger hopper that holds paintballs, feeding them into the gun through its bottom.

Feeder Agitator - An electronic device located at the base of the feeder. The agitator makes sure the pellets feed through the bottom of the feeder and don’t clog up.

Flank - A strategy where one or two players provide cover fire and a distraction while team mates move around the sides or back of the opposition.

Fogged - When your goggles are fogged up and you can’t see out of them.

FPS Feet per second - The measurement of speed at which the paintball travels

Ghost - A player who keeps on playing after being tagged out.

Gogged - Being shot directly in the mask by another player.

Gun Whore - A player who collects more paintball markers than they use or need.

Guppy - Slang term for the large tubes used to carry additional paintballs on the field. They are officially called pods.

Harness or Fanny Pack - A belt/harness system used to carry loaders of paint so you can reload the feeder/hopper on the field during play.

Headcheck - Taking a quick look from your cover to gauge the enemies' position just before shooting. It’s often used before taking a snap shot.

Hopper - The magazine used for the paintball marker. Sizes vary but the average is about 200 rounds.

Hoser - Somebody who shoots excessive paintballs, usually soaking the opposing bunker in paint.

Hot - Firing hot and a hot gun refers to a marker that is firing at a velocity above what is allowed by the playing field.

Humiliated - When a player gets shot an enormous amount of times.

Johnny On The Spot - A player who carries around large amounts of ammunition for their team mates to use.

Kamikaze - A player who sacrifices themselves for the sole purpose of eliminating the opposition.

Lane - An imaginary unobstructed path between bunkers. A shooting lane refers to a clear shooting lane from one bunker to another.

Lit Up - Refers to an overwhelming victory. It’s also used to describe somebody who has been shot numerous times.

Llama - A timid and usually ineffective player.

Military Rules - Eliminations only count when the head or torso of a player is shot.

Newbie - A new paintball player.

Nub - An experienced player who exhibits the traits of a new player.

Overshoot - To mark a player with excessive hits. More than what is necessary to eliminate them. The same as bonus ball and overkill.

Paint Check - When an official or player inspects another player for a hit

Pairing - When team mates are designated as partners and are responsible for each other. Usually new players and skilled veterans are paired together.

Pawn - Somebody who is used by the rest of the team in situations where their value is insignificant in that particular game. A newer player who is sacrificed by being sent to the most dangerous parts of the field.

Pimp - Somebody who isn’t in authority, but still directs players on the field. Also refers to players who survive by using other players and keeping a low profile themselves.

Pod - A tube-shaped device that carries extra paintballs while on the field.

Pod Bitch - Somebody who stands on the sidelines and fills pods with paintballs.

Porting - Means the barrel has small holes drilled through it to cut down on the noise by releasing air pressure before it leaves the barrel muzzle.

Rabbit - A penalty where the rule-breaker must run unarmed and be chased by their team mates while they shoot him/her. This penalty is painful and should be used only for extreme rule breaking.

Remote - A coiled or braided steel hose connecting the gun to the air source. This enables a player to carry the air source on their harness instead of on the marker.

Rogue - A player who usually does their own thing on the field, often refusing to follow the game plans of their team leaders.

Roping Paint - When a player shoots a nonstop stream of pellets down a lane.

Snake (noun) - A long, low structure usually located in the middle or to one or both sides of a field. The snake is a unique setup as it allows players to advance while still being covered from most locations on the field.

Snap Shooting – When a player begins shooting before leaning out from behind a bunker.

Squeegie - This is a device that is used to clean the paint from the barrel of a gun.

Squid - A new player, also known as a newbie.

Squid Basher - This is a player who plays very aggressively against new players.

Stitched - When a player gets a series hits, usually on the back.

Surrender - This is yelled by the attacker if they hold the upper hand on an opponent within close range. This gives the enemy a chance to give up without being shot.

Tank - The CO2 or compressed air containers that are used to power paintball markers.

Tricked out - Describes a marker that has been upgraded and enhanced.

Wiping - The illegal act of cleaning off a hit when a referee isn't looking. This is done to keep from being eliminated.

Scenario Lingo

Scenario games have their own lingo in addition to standard paintball sayings

APV - An armored paintball vehicle, also called a tank. These include land, and water vehicles.

Armband Tape - Used to identify what team a player is on. Most armband team colors are blue and red, however other colors can be used to designate special job positions, such as demolitions, engineer, medic, pilot, etc.

BBD - Barrel blocking device, which is another term for a barrel sock or barrel condom.

Battle Royale - A free-for-all battle usually with a time limit, where players get points for eliminating the opposition and for surviving. The player with the most points wins.

CO - Commanding officer.

Demolitions - Job position in which the player uses demolitions equipment.

Engineer - A player who can repair destroyed structures.

General - The General, or CO, is the team leader. When he/she isn’t available, the XO takes over.

GSRP - Acronym for General Scenario Rules of Play. These are the basic set of rules that many scenario games follow.

LAW Launcher - A device used to eliminate APVs, bunkers, and enemy players. They are used to fire rockets.

Medic - A player who physically wipes the paint off other players.

Overkill - When a player is shot more than necessary.

Pilot - The operator of a transportation vehicle. Pilots can not be shot at, and nobody on the vehicle can shoot at other players until they are dropped off.

Prop - Any object which is used in the scenario game.

Producer - The company or person responsible for organizing, running, and keeping the game safe.

Satchel Charge - A prop that is placed under supervision for triggered elimination or demolition. These are generally an alternative to LAWs for vehicle elimination.

XO - Executive Officer. The second in command to the General.