Five seconds. No, that's not my 40-yard dash time. That's how long I lasted at Paintball Dave's before I felt the sting of getting shot and eliminated from my paintball debut.

Located at 203 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward, Paintball Dave's offers three floors of indoor fields. Opened in 1988 by Dave Rudig, his venue houses the oldest indoor paintball fields in the world. The building was formerly a meatpacking plant and appears in the directory of the city's historic buildings.

"Dave saw a course and he liked it, so he just built a course in his basement," said general manager Tim Glidden. "We just grew from there."

I can attest firsthand that Paintball Dave's is for paintballers of any skill level. Upon arrival, customers are given the rundown on both equipment and safety. Thankfully, with the use of a radar gun, the staff limits the speed of paintball to a mere 240 feet per second. Not even Keanu Reeves could dodge that.

After fitting on a mask and vest, one gets a feel for the gun at the shooting range. Riding on the century-old flatbed elevator, the courses Western World, Castle Field and the Maze await customers.

When I visited, a group of boys were in the midst of a pistol showdown in Western World, a setting seemingly out of the saloon-littered Old West. All games are played in a capture-the-flag format, where two teams, starting on opposite sides of the field try to gain their opponents' flag by eliminating the other teams' members.

The floor above boasts Castle Field, where a dozen men in their 20s were pumping off 10 shots per second with semi-automatic paintball rifles. I had the feeling that they had done this before. Needless to say, I was quite content to just watch.

The Maze, located in the basement, lived up to its name. A series of twists and turns, aided by a dark tunnel with strobe lights, made it a puzzling labyrinth.

Beginner pistol games last three hours, which usually amounts to eight to 10 games. For $34, customers are provided with everything needed to play: A gun, goggles and a helmet, a protective team vest and 100 shots. The more advanced game involves a semi-automatic gun, 500 shots and costs $39. For college students who find Paintball Dave's to be a bit pricey, discounts are available. A $5 coupon is available on the Paintball Dave's Web site. A group of six or more people is eligible for another $5 off.

So, just one time before the school year ends, pay the same amount for an unforgettable three hours of paintball rather than an unmemorable weekend at the bars.