If you’re a fan of close-quarter-battle (CQB) style sports like paintball, laser tag, and airsoft, then you’re in familiar territory. Gel balling is another CQB game that uses a toy gun, usually called a gel blaster, to launch projectile gel pellets and gain popularity because of its safety, environmental-friendliness, and legality. Let’s talk about what gel balling entails and how to play it safely.
The Ammunition
The projectile ammunition used in gel balling is gel balls. They are water beads made up of various polymers and sodium polyacrylate because of their superb capability to absorb water. The gel beads are made by extrusion, hence a set diameter of about 6-8 mm, and then stripped of any moisture before being shipped.
When soaked in water, these beads absorb the liquid and grow exponentially in size, sometimes by over 200 times. Another good thing about gel balls is their impact on the environment. They are made of biodegradable material and are essentially over 90% water. In fact, gel beads are used readily in horticulture and gardening because of their water retention capabilities, hence they are excellent for use in gardens and plant pots.
The material is also non-toxic, so there is no imminent danger if consumed. However, because they tend to grow in size when they take up water, extreme caution should be taken for gel balls not to be ingested, especially by children and pets. Storing hydrated gel balls is easy as they can be refrigerated in airtight containers, and can last for about 15 days. Under optimum conditions (dry and cold places away from sunlight), dry ones will last for years.
When hit by a gel ball, it usually does not cause significant pain and instead causes a slight sting – since it is supposed to be a recreational sport. It also leaves little to no residue – they explode on impact and, since they are made of mostly water, evaporate after a while.
The Guns
The main difference between the guns used for gel balling versus airsoft or paintball is their power and build. They come in various models and ranges, starting from basic pistols all the way up to rifles, and come at various price points. You can even customize and improve the performance of some gel blasters by using different mods and accessories for specific parts and functions.
These will help you get more control over your gun, making it more suited to your style of play. For instance, you can swap out the existing motor in your relatively inexpensive gun for a higher quality one, significantly boosting the speed with which you fire. You could even get a bigger battery pack that can give you more power and hence more time for gameplay. As a beginner, it’s most likely that you will start somewhere in the mid-quality range of guns and work your way through a couple before you figure out which gun suits your needs. Although price does not always guarantee quality, any gun costing over $100 is a good bet.
The Safety
There are some easy precautions you can take to ensure safe play with gel balling. Treat your gun blaster just like any other gun, even if it is a toy. By doing this, you will consciously apply the same gun handling and safety rules as you would to a real gun. You must never point the barrel directly at someone when not playing. Keep the barrel pointing upwards, ensure the safety lock is on, and try to keep a barrel wrap on. You should wear protective padding, especially in sensitive areas like your knees and elbows.
In most cases, makeshift gear like wearing homemade knee/elbow pads can even work as the main goal is to absorb the impact of the pellet as it makes contact with your body. You must also try to ditch short sleeves and shorts to avoid exposing your skin to pellets, excessive sun, or scraping and cuts as you go through the terrain.
Try wearing long sleeve shirts and pants or sportswear. One thing that is an absolute must for you to wear is either a goggle or a helmet. Your eyes are extremely sensitive and sometimes accidents happen. If a pellet hits your eye or even close to your eye, the impact can cause damage that you want to avoid at all costs.
There is a legal aspect attached to any toy that even remotely mimics firearms and shooting. The legal status of owning or using a gel blaster may depend on where you live, so check with your local laws before purchasing one. Be sure to keep safety as your highest priority as projectiles, no matter how safe, are always prone to accidents.
