So what upgrades should I get?

best installment loans

Ah yes, the most frequently asked question by those who have just recently purchased their first marker. I have been on many forums and have lurked through countless threads that began with those exact same words. However different each forum thread may have been answered, the same thought came to mind. Do you know what exactly it is your even upgrading for?

As with most players, I too was sucked in to the belief that my first paintball gun was not going to perform well, unless I spent nearly three times it’s worth in upgrades. After having spent more money on upgrades than the original price of the gun I came to a realization, The gun was no better than it was before I began with the modifications. Why is that? I’ll tell you. It was simply because I had no idea what each upgrade would yield in performance versus looks.

Each marker that can be purchased today is set to a level of performance by the factory. In those specifications the company has installed a level at which the player can personalize the marker in both looks and performance. For example, if you have fast fingers yet lack the cash for an electronic trigger frame for your Autococker, you can purchase yourself a new trigger frame that can be easily adjusted to fit your firing technique. This upgrade has now made that particular marker personal to the owner and he/she can identify with its capabilities. With every upgrade you must understand that it is not about the resale of the gun it is about the compatibility of that gun to your tastes.

So many people spend countless dollars on upgrades that do absolutely nothing for the performance of the gun but rather the look. An example of this are volumizers found on any Angel made prior to the Speed or the A4. The volumizers did absolutely nothing but add to the look of the gun. Not to mention that they were extra weight that was actually not necessary. So you can see in this example that not all upgrades aid in the performance but can actually deplete the performance of your marker. These mods may indeed look cool but was that money well spent?

I don’t want to come off as being a critic to the many upgrades by so many aftermarket companies, but I must shed some light on those that think upgrading their marker is what will make their game better. I have seen many players with high-end electro markers fall to the players with what the market would deem, low-end competition markers. One team comes to mind, maybe you’ve heard of them? Bad Company has been slaughtering teams year by year using a simple and hardly upgraded Kingman Spyder. They have game, and in that game they use the marker as a tool to tag players not intimidate them.

The lesson learned here should be this, do not spend that extra hard earned money on upgrading your marker until you are certain you know what that upgrade does. And furthermore, what that upgrade will do for you. Buying a faster trigger for someone that can’t pull off 3 balls per second on a stock Cocker would be a waste. Learn how to play the game. Spend the money where it counts and buy what you need. Save for the upgrades. When you know what you need then spend the greenbacks. And if at all possible, get the advice of other players that are serious about their game rather than those who buy into the hype of an overpriced marketing plan.