The sport of paintball has taken off with young and old alike in the past decade, and play and equipment has advanced by leaps and bounds and continues to do so. The sport is immensely popular among teens and young adults, and many spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on paintball equipment, especially the paintball marker. Paintball doesn't have to be that expensive, and if you know what you need before you shop, you'll save yourself both time and money.

The most basic piece of equipment to play the sport of paintball is the paintball marker. A paintball marker is also known as a paintball gun and they come in many different brands and styles. One of the most popular brands of paintball marker manufacturers out there today are Tippmann and Smart Parts Ion. If you're in the market to purchase a paintball marker, you should know how one works.

A paintball marker is merely the piece of equipment that propels the paintball toward its intended target. A paintball marker is operated on either a high-pressure air tank system or a system that utilizes carbon dioxide pressure. The later is by far the most popular among paintball players. These two types of propulsion systems give the paintball marker the burst of compressed air that it needs to propel the paintball long distances. The size of the tank will determine the amount of rounds you can fire without a refill. While the carbon dioxide tank is the most popular with paintball marker models, it is stored as either a gas or a liquid, so temperatures will affect both velocity and marksmanship during play. This type of system is also the safest and more reliable for beginning to moderate skill levels. A high pressure air tank system of paintball marker propulsion offers both greater accuracy and velocity, so if you're a regular player and serious about your game, this is your best bet. Before venturing to a field to play, however, make sure the facility can reload your tank, because some don't have the equipment to do so.

A paintball marker, depending on brand and style, can cost anywhere from one hundred to over a thousand dollars. The Tippmann 98 Custom runs about $140 but can be found on sale during certain times of the year. This model is adequate for beginners and those playing for recreation. The mid-field range Bob Long Alias Intimidator can run you about $1,200 and is geared for those playing middle range fields. For those playing scenario games, a Tippmann A-5 with Reactive Trigger can run about $300 and is best for needs when automatic firing and stealth are important. Prices can run in between, again depending on brand and need. Air tanks for a paintball marker can run between $20 and $180 depending on size as well.

Yes, paintball is just a game, but it's also serious business to many fans. A paintball marker is just one of many pieces of important equipment a paintball player will need.