So You Want to Be a Better Laser Tag Player?

There are many different brands of laser tag equipment out there. Unfortunately, each one involves slightly different skills.

Still, there are a few common denominators amongst all or most laser tag systems. Consider the following pointers from laser tag legend, Jason Bock (AKA The Baron).

Effective laser tag play involves two skills, tagging opponents or targets and avoiding being tagged. The easiest way to improve your laser tag game in any system is to avoid being tagged.

1. Stand sideways to your opponent. Most laser tag equipment places sensors on the chest, back and shoulders. When you stand sideways towards a laser tag opponent, you are reducing your target area and make yourself harder to hit.

2. Use available obstacles. Make use of the available laser tag arena obstacles by hiding most of your body behind them. Tag around or over the obstacles.

3. Put your laser tag sensors where you opponent isn't firing. Learn to place your sensors in unusual places. For instance, if the phaser has sensors (most laser tag systems do), learn to fire when you're holding it high or low or far out from your body. These are places your opponent won't think to tag.

The next easiest way to improve your game is to score more points. You can accomplish this by practicing and focusing on improving your laser tag efficiency (the percentage of opposing players you tag).

Most systems give you some sort of crutch to judge your tagging. Usually, this is either a visible laser, a sound or a light on the back of your phaser. To be the best, you need to learn to hit targets instinctively without relying on this crutch. This will speed up the rate to can tag opponents and targets.

Think about the scoring in your home laser tag system. Do you get the most points for tagging other players or tagging the bases? Will you help your team more by preventing other players from tagging the base or by trying to tag the base yourself.

Playing base defense (preventing other players from tagging the base), is a quick way to improve your individual laser tag play. After all, you know other players will try to tag the base.

Of course, the best way to improve your laser tag play is to find the best players at your home facility and play them. How do they play? What do they do to score points?

These are the easiest ways to improve your laser tag score at almost any laser tag arena.

If you're interested in competitive play, check out www.lasersport.com, a player supported site dedicated to laser tag tournaments and play.

If you'd like to find a place to play laser tag, go to www.wheretoplaylasertag.com for a directory of all known sites in the US and Canada.

Jason Bock
The Laser Tag Guy

Jason Bock has been involved in laser tag since the very beginning as a player, manager and consultant. He has written three books about laser tag for several trade associations and remains involved in the industry through LASERTRON. Find out more about laser tag or Jason at www.laser-tron.com.

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