Safety isnt an option in paintball. Use it or lose it...use the mask or lose an eye. FYI, a paintball gun generally shoots a paintball at 300 fps. Thats what the mask's ASTM standard is rated for. The mask is designed to protect against a facial hit and to protect other areas of the head. A hit to the ear could do severe damage to your eardrum and the could break the small bones which determine balance. A shot to the temple could actually even cause severe injuries and yes, even death. An unprotected eye can be completely knocked out by a paintball. Paintball players across the United States and the world are hitting dilemnas due to either the misuse of protection or the outright non use of protection. Some city officials have banned the use of paintball guns due to kids using paintball guns other than what their intentions call for. If you succumb to this blatant misuse of paintball safety devices you'll just be feeding the anti-paintball frenzy. Please dont use a paintball gun without having the proper safety equipment. Not only could it save someone some severe damage, it'll help those of us who like to play the sport to continue playing and it wont be looked on as a violent and injury prone game. Freezing paintballs and then use them without a mask? That is just plain crazy. If you want to severely injure someone, keep in mind the suffering that individual will have to endure, the sorrow you will feel afterwards, and the millions who love to play the sport responsibly that will have another notch in the anti-paintball movement. So please, play responsibly.