Speedball
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For other uses of the term speedball, see Speedball (disambiguation).
Speedball is one of several game types of the sport of paintball. Speedball is characterized by relatively faster pace than other paintball game types, such as woodsball. When played in a tournament setting, it is sometimes referred to as 'tourneyball'.
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[edit] General
Speedball is characterized by its fast movement, both with players and game length, and high volume of fire. Although a typical speedball round lasts only several minutes, many of the players are firing an almost constant stream of paintballs, consuming a quantity of paint in a single round that many woodsball and scenario players would expect to go through in three or four. For this reason, many commercial speedball fields are bordered by a pro shop, where players can purchase additional paint and propellant refills.
The game format in speedball is almost exclusively 'capture the flag', with official games scored on flag capture points rather than pure elimination. However, once games pass the novice level, it is rare for a team to capture the flag and score without eliminating the opposing team. Exact rules and scoring for speedball vary from sanctioning body to sanctioning body.
Speedball type games have a mirror field (There are the same amount of bunkers in the same locations on either side of the field) so that there is no advantage for either team.
[edit] Speedball positions
Playing paintball on a speedball field brings in a number of additional considerations to strategic and tactical decisions. There are three general player roles: back players, center players, and front players. These positions truly develop in advanced speedball players who have practiced or drilled on a team. Recreational speedball is a very different experience.
[edit] Markers
Markers intended for speedball focus on consistency, accuracy and a high rate of fire. Many speedball markers have anti-chop eyes, which warn the system when a paintball is inhibited from settling completely in the chamber, to avoid breaking a ball, as players in a speedball match have little time to spare to clean out a barrel. Force-feed hoppers are also a common sight on the speedball field, as they allow for a much faster and more consistent supply of paint than a standard gravity-feed hopper.
In order to achieve peak performance, speedball markers should be tested to ensure proper operation and settings before use and must be cleaned after use. Although high-end paintball markers are fairly picky about the amount of dirt and grime they can ingest before malfunctioning, if properly cared for, the markers will often maintain the full rate of fire, accuracy, and paint velocity with few glitches, chopped/broken paint, or other problems. This is critical in speedball and tournaments, where entry-level markers can fail to operate as parts expand and wear during the course of a game. The thousand dollar-plus price tag and hassles before/after the game often equal out with the smooth operation and consistency high-end markers afford. For speedball players, pulling out a squeegee is not an option, nor is any missed recock.
Most speedball markers are designed to be used with high pressure air (HPA) or nitrogen as a propellant, rather than the less expensive carbon dioxide (CO2). This is due to a more constant pressure output, as the extreme cold of liquid carbon dioxide can cause velocity spikes and will destroy the solenoid valves used in modern markers, as well as the possibility of liquid carbon dioxide shorting out electronic boards commonly used in paintball markers. Use of carbon dioxide will void the warranty on most high-end markers.
[edit] Recreational speedball
Recreational speedball tends to be a highly disorganized game at most fields, without real positions or defined strategy. All skill levels mix, and new players scramble for bunkers as seasoned veterans take up well-defined positions and begin yelling information to any teammate that cares to listen. These games, while fast, are nowhere near the ferocity seen in tourneys and on television and paintball videos.
Some fields have a 'speedball night' billed for skilled speedball players. While the speedball fields are open on any traditional day, speedball days tend to draw tournament players, looking for a pickup game without beginner or intermediate paintballers. These tend to have a distinct 'poolshark' atmosphere, with a familiar crowd of regulars attending most nights. Teams may look for new players at these events, or practice and run drills if team practice is allowed. This is in stark contrast to the normal jovial off-field attitude most walk-on players are used to. There is a definite minimum expectation, and a person who comes unprepared in either skill, proper marker, or other equipment may find the experience unpleasant.
[edit] Comparisons with woodsball
Woodsball and speedball are often maintained by their respective proponents as being two different breeds of the same species. However, even though their differences are numerous, they also have many similarities, on a number of varying levels.
More so than in other game types played recreationally, information and constant movement are quite critical in recreational speedball play. The team that communicates the most information, in the most consumable format (i.e. something more useful than "I'm getting shot at") usually wins. As in other game types, experienced speedball players can often be quite upset over newer and less communicative players who move to playing speedball.
In comparison, the larger fields in woods games can severely inhibit effective communication across the entire team, and in basic recreational woodsball and scenarioball, communication is virtually nonexistent and information passes around in the form of unconfirmed rumors. However, advanced woodsball and scenario teams have developed numerous methods of communication, ranging from secure radio channels to hand/arm signals viewed through proper optical magnification instruments (i.e. binoculars or scopes with sufficient eye relief for use with masks), to flag signals and more.
Additionally, basic woodsball's large spaces devoid of activity, combined with the information choke allows an enterprising individual or two to outmaneuver the majority of the other team, which has become cumbersome and difficult to direct due to these difficulties. Organized woodsball and scenario teams have a distinct advantage in woodsball, being used to effective group tactics, widespread coordination and communication even separated from the rest of the team by relatively large distances. Speedball players, while playing in the woods, tend to rely on the overwhelming firepower and rapid movement they are used to, which can be highly successful tactic for walk-on games, but becomes ineffective against advanced woodsball and scenario teams.
Movement is the other key difference in speedball. In woods games, many fields (but not all) have bunkers arranged in an asymmetrical fashion designed to exploit natural factors such as topography, water, vegetation, et cetera, and usually at some distance. In basic recreational woodsball, this lends to long exchanges between two bunkers with very little movement. Speedball utilizes symmetric bunkers that are very carefully arranged to provide an equal playing field, and at the same time bunkers are close enough to encourage movement.
