Be a Better Airsoft Player

In past posts I have discussed strategies for improving your team’s effectiveness as a whole. Since we have all heard the old adage that a team is only as strong as its weakest player, I thought it would be valuable to address ways in which you can improve as an independent player. Strong players do, after all, enhance the team.

Know your weapon and gear. Do some basic training, including some ground work, such as running and crawling. Get familiar with the weight and maneuvering limitations of your gear. Learn what works well with your equipment dimensions.

Improve Your Accuracy. Some people think the quickest way to become a better player is to upgrade your weapon. Upgrades are awesome, don’t get me wrong, but they are not a quick fix for a bad shot. The truth is if you want to improve your form and accuracy, you have to practice. The good news is... practicing is really fun. Here are a few things to keep in mind when working on your accuracy:

• Always aim for a small, specific area on the target – not the target as a whole. Keep your eye on that small area rather than glancing around.
• Grip high on the gun so that your middle finger is high on the trigger guard. A higher grip will give you more control regardless of the weapon. It will improve your aim and ease recoil.
• Use your fingerprint area to slowly squeeze down on the trigger. This will limit jerking and allow for more control over the gun. Try to make this a fluid movement; this is especially important if you are using a sniper rifle or pistol.
• The farther away you are, the higher you will have to aim to hit your target. Practice different ranges and learn what works best for you and your weapon(s).
• Be sure to practice shooting while moving around.
• Different guns will have a different feel, be they gas, spring or electric airsoft guns. The more you use it, the more instinctual your weapon will be to you.

Know the Terminology. Be sure to research the different war terms that you may encounter on the field. If you are told an enemy fighter is at your 6 o’clock, it’s better to instinctively know what that means than to mentally calculate it on the field. There are a number of airsoft glossaries out there worth reviewing. You don’t need to know every term, but a solid understanding will help you.

Know the strategies. Most wargames are broken up into teams that are either offense-oriented or defense-oriented. Defense-oriented teams tend to be grounded in a specific area, while offense-oriented teams are on active attack, trying to gain ground. A good strategy if you are on the defense is to find a position that provides both cover and access to enemy targets. The more hidden you are, the better. If the enemy cannot figure out where the shots are coming from, you have the chance to do more damage. If you are on the offense, your main two objectives are determining where harmful fire is coming from, and removing the origin of that fire, thus allowing you to gain ground. It is surprisingly difficult to find a tactically hidden defensive player. Offensive players should try to engage the enemy with minimal movement or noise. Surprise is really the best weapon on the field.

Be fit. You will need to be able to run, crawl, and dive… all with heavy gear. The more physically fit you are, the better you will be on the field.

Be safe and have fun. Wear the right protective gear, use good judgment, and the more you play, the better you will be.