Exciting and engaging paintball experience. (Delta Force Paintball)

Member Name: loadedluke

Product:	Delta Force Paintball
Date:	02/08/09 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accomodates young and old, experienced players and beginners

Disadvantages: expensive, no gloves provided, you will get shot and you will get bruised

{THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE UPMINSTER, ESSEX BRANCH OF DELTA FORCE PAINTBALL, OTHER BRANCHES MAY VARY}

Delta Force is one of the largest paintball companies in Britain, with around 100 centres. I visited the Upminster branch with two friends. There had been a mistake with the booking office, but this was quickly sorted and represented the strong customer service the company pushes.

This was my first time paintballing, but everything was explained by the Park Marshals. Protective headgear, body armour and overalls are provided by the centre, so there is no fear of ones clothes being ruined by the mud, although i would recommend wearing a cheap pair of trainers or boots. However, gloves are sold seperately (and at a high price). If a paintball does hit your hand, it is VERY painful, and i would bring a pair of gloves if i went again.

There are six different themed arenas for the paintball matches, from a wooden fort, to a pyramid-themed Tomb, each with a specific goal or scenario, so that teamwork and tactics are required to win the matches, rather then simply trying to shoot your opponents. However, the number of players on each side is not regulated, so my team usually one simply because there were so many more players on our side. Delta Force is a very popular and succesful company, but as a result, there seems to be too many people playing. There were around 50+ people playing on each arena, and it feels overcrowded.

You get 200 paintballs for free when you first pay for admission. but after that, 100 paintballs costs £7 and you will go through around 500 to 600 in the course of a day, so either try to bring your own, or at least be prepared to pay. Many of these bullets are wasted however, as some of the guns will malfunction. They either won't load, or lose pressure, so that the paintball comes out of the gun and lands a metre in front of you. I had to start manually pulling back the firing mechanism in order to load a paintball.

However, the staff were friendly and it was well organised. The safety meeting at the beginning of the day was very informal and strict, but this was essential as paintballing is fairly dangerous. I had a few bruises from where paintballs hit my legs and sides.

Overall, i had a great time, and the experience was good. I and my friends plan to go again.

Summary: A very professional service. The arenas are full of terrain and cover, making for exciting games