Not all Paintballs are created equal. But what makes a Paintball good or bad? In this blog we’ll break the grades of Paintballs down into 3 tiers, give you the Pros & Cons of each and even talk a little Paintball science. 

Now, the million dollar question: What makes a Paintball good or bad? Well, you want a paintball that will break on your target but not in your marker. You want a Paintball that shoots straight and doesn’t have imperfections to the shell. And you want a Paintball that’s not going to break the bank. At least for me, those are my top 3 concerns when it comes to paint.

Before we get into the Paintball tiers, let’s talk some Paintball physics. 

Most people think a paintball being inaccurate is simply due to dimpling or other deformities to the shell. When in reality, it’s often due to what is referred to as fluid dynamics happening inside the Paintball. 

Paintball fill is made up of several different solutions mixed together; like gelatin, water, coloring & starch. When cheaper fill is used (usually higher in starch), the different solutions inside the paintball can actually separate from each other. Like how oil separates from water. These solutions then collide into each other inside the Paintball which can throw off the ball's trajectory and make the shot inaccurate. 

Now that the science lesson is out of the way, let’s get into the breakdown:

Practice grade Paintballs are most often used for, you guessed it, practice or recreational play. Practice grade paintballs are made to have a thicker shell, which is great for markers that are rougher on paint but does make them more prone to bouncing off your target. 

Standard grade Paintballs are going to be a little more expensive than practice paint. It’s going to have a thinner, more brittle shell, and a bit thicker fill. This paint is most commonly used for local tournaments or big games.

Premium grade Paintballs are going to be top of the line, the best money can buy. Premium paint is made with the highest quality shell & fill to ensure maximum consistency and accuracy. This paint can be unforgiving on markers that are rougher on paint though, it's best suited for higher end markers.

What's your favorite type of Paintball to shoot?

Do you go for the high end or do you prefer quantity over quality so you can shoot more paint?