SO WHAT WENT ON AT NPPL HB?

To be honest, I've not really got much of a clue. There was no live webcast, which when even the Millennium series is managing it was a bit of a letdown. There were no live score updates on the NPPL website, they had results but were slow updating them. The only info we could really get was from the actual teams and players from their own Facebook and Twitter feeds! Go bless social media huh.

From the pictures the event looked really sweet. AstroTurf on the Huntington Beach sand with what looked like large crowds gathering to see what all the crazy guys with guns shooting at each other was all about. It always seems to portray the ideal ballin' image we all want to live and be a part of. The best looking event on the calendar, and one the public can engage with. Just a shame that the ballers who weren't there struggled to get any info, especially with how new media means we can be right on the money, at all times.

Some of the main news that we could gather were things like Dynasty dropping out Sunday morning to Uprising in a game that Ryan Greenspan described on twitter as 'an embarrassing loss.' Doesn't sound good, but from what I can gather Oliver Lang got a penalty that I think cost them the game. Thing is I've no idea what it was for? Anybody?

The final was the Texan boys from San Antonio X-Factor, who struggled in the first PSP event, facing off against new Pro team Vancouver Vendetta. Vendetta where stoked to make it into the finals but X-Factor's experience proved too much for them, taking X-Factor to their first win this season. Awesome job X-Factor! Hopefully they can bring it to the next PSP and really start to show their teeth.

Also it would be real nice if the NPPL could sort it for the Chicago Open in May to be webcast. Or maybe at least get some sort of live scoring thing going on for all us fans who can't make it over. They did it for a few events last year, and whilst it wasn't quite up to the big money showing the PSP put in with the awesome Paintball Access, it was still pretty good. Not having it at HB is a huge trick missed by the NPPL and one they need to get sorted quickly.

If this was the last Huntington Beach event by the NPPL, they didn't help things by not inviting the rest of the paintball world to their party.

ECLIPSE PRODUCT REVIEW.

Okey dokey, review time. We're Planet Eclipse fanbois, we make no bones about that. Not because that's all we know; we've both shot a few different whips and tried different gear over the years but we always go back to Eclipse. It's where our hearts are and we really do think they make the best quality gear and a ridiculous amount of design effort goes into every little thing they do. Which brings us smoothly into our pre-battle test review of our latest kit that was in our support crate.


Eclipse Overload Slide Shorts:
I've never really felt the need for a pair of these, even though I dive around quite a lot. These are real nice and tight but have a soft flex to em so don't feel like they're cutting off your circulation. The padding's in all the right places and if, like me, you don't like wearing a cup then there's a thin foam padded piece that fits into a Velcro pouch. Great idea!

Eclipse Overload Padded Jersey:
Makes you feel a bit like Scotty Kemp when you wear it...apart from the stretchy belly part that shows us 30 something's where we need to cut the calories. This is more suited for someone who's used to wearing a padded undergarment, I just don't feel comfortable with anything other than a tee, but I'm gonna give it a whirl to see how it does. Design wise, again this is really cool with neat padding in all the right places with a good level of stretch to the fabric.Chris loves this thing, mainly cuz he wants to look muscular. Overall a really cool item, well padded and comfortable, but I'll need to play in it first to give a true opinion.

Eclipse Overload Pads:
Juuuuuust plain awesome!! I've been rocking the same DYE pads since 2002 which is a good product endorsement I suppose but I know Chris had loads of issues with his cutting into his soft, peach-like skin. The new Eclipse Distortion pads are really well made as you'd expect from any Eclipse product, but they're well considered too. A nice wide padded area so your knee will survive any serious Platoon death throw moments and the comfy sleeve means they are super nice to wear. Their stretchy Velcro strap works a treat too so you can wear em as loose or as tight as you like without em sliding about.

The arm pads are crazy good, with a twist in their tail, literally. These have been twisted to bend and move naturally with your elbow so they'll never end up halfway around your arm like some pads do ad they feel really natural and comfy. Also, the now essential thumb loops are also included with good quality stitching to stop em ripping your thumb off.

Eclipse Distortion Gauntlet Gloves:
So, the gauntlet. These things are an amazing piece of thinking and design and will work brilliantly for people who fancy something a little different. They're a bit like an MMA glove but with no separation between the fingers, more like a sleeve that covers and protects your knuckles. They're elasticated inside around your fingers to keep your digits in check. For me, these are brilliant but I don't like how they hold my fingers together, kinda freaks me out but that's purely a personal thing. And for those non-glove wearers they have these cool wristbands with thumbholes which protect your hands but give you bags of freedom. Kinda Emo looking but they feel an look awesome!!

Socks:
Do NOT forget about these bamboo based socks. These things are by far the comfiest socks I've ever owned and the bamboo fabric means more sweat dissipation which means dryer and less stinky dogs. Awesome!! They come in ankle length or trainer sock style in one colour way.

So there we are. The GFH looking hot, sexy and legendary, with a bit of our view on a few things. All reviews we post will be shortened and added to our reviews archive up top.

Like I say, these are our views and really don't reflect everyone's so give everything a try as what doesn't work for us may be perfect for you.

Keep it GFH.

GIVING THE NEW MASKS A GRILLIN.

Everyone who plays ball has some sort of mask preference. Mine has always been the JT ProFlex. Since we first started playing it was the only mask I really wanted to use. It's kinda the mask that every baller could recognise even if you just saw the outline of it. It's the iconic paintball mask! Now Al never liked it? Something about it being too big for his pea head and too much fussy stuff like the soft ears and the large rubber chin piece. His joint was always the Dye Invision masks. They always felt too cramped for my head, and where a bit too much of a ghay design for me. Suited him perfectly for some reason.

So this season we where lucky enough to pick up V-Force as a sponsor. Now it's not like me to not want to wear anything that I got for free, but let me tell you, I was not looking forward to putting the Flex away! Al will tell you all about my whiny texts saying can't I just keep the flex, pwidy pweese!

See one of my problems was that back when we played EXL for Shockwave we where also sponsored by V-Force. They where a great sponsor and hooked us up with all the masks and lenses we could ever need, but at the time their flagship mask was the Profiler. It was actually a pretty good mask. Huge field of vision, lenses where straight forward to change compared to a Flex, and they were pretty bullet proof with the build quality. Problem was, I just didn't think they looked good with that massive fishbowl lens! Thing is, we all know paintball is 50% shooting fools and 50% looking good, so the Profiler just looked sooooo much worse than my trusty Flex. Yeah, a tinted lens helped, but it still didn't quite do it for me.

Now the one good thing about the Profiler was that for a whole year of full on EXL Xball, the mask performed perfectly. Never fogged once, hardly had to change a lens and it's still sat in my kitbag as a spare to the good ole Flex. This was the thing though. Once my sponsorship deal ended, I switched back to the mask I love. That is the true acid test.

Well now we're back in the V-Force stable, I was expecting to be a bit disappointed when I had to put the Flex to one side. Gotta say, they have really surprised me with the newest addition to the range......The V-Force Grill. This thing looks about a million times better than the Profiler! The lens has been shrunk but without cutting down on peripheral vision, and the whole feel and fit of the mask is better. It's close fitting, but not like the Dye masks that feel small. The lens can be changed in seconds by just ripping the strap off then popping it out. Even the foam round the lens can be whipped off and replaced if it gets to sweaty and stinky after those long 'Race Too' games.

Never thought I'd say it, but I'm actually a bit of a convert. It doesn't hurt that some of the top Pro teams out there are rocking them too like Impact, Heat, X-Factor and the always good to watch, Aftershock. This is the first mask I've actually considered as a replacement for my ageing Flex in forever! I've only used it a couple of times now, but it has all of the Profilers good points with non of the ugly looks. It looks totally bad ass, and throw in a smoke or mirrored lens and you'll look like a flippin serial killer at the field!

So there you have it, I might have finally found a new favorite mask. I guess time will tell, but you'll all know sooner or later as I'll always keep my Flex as a backup, it's just that that is all it might ever be now!!

Oh and the mask modding has already started. Couldn't help myself really. Every mask I have ever had has always had my K2 strap grafted onto it, and this thing is no exception. Double strapping it with the K2 was probably the easiest thing ever. Just push the new strap through the loops and your done! No sewing, or cutting. Just straight on and easily reversible. Now that's my kind of mod!!