Does Paintball Hurt?

When I mention to people that I play paintball, I almost always get a follow-up question: Doesn't it hurt? Sometimes I want to make up a strange comparison about how it feels kind of like getting hit by an egg beater thrown from across the room or hint that it's one of the most painful things I've ever felt but I'm addicted to the pain, but in the end, I always seem to tell the truth.

Getting hit by a paintball can hurt, but it's rarely an issue. My worst injuries from paintball have come from slips, falls and crushing my elbow into a tree while running at full speed. I've never had a serious bruise from a paintball that was fired at a safe speed (less than 300 fps). Sure, paintballs can cause some injuries, but I've been hurt much worse while frying an egg.