I don't know if this is a myth.
2006-12-29 08:38:22 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Swimming & Diving
It helps reduce the friction that your body hair and dead skin cells exert on the water. In essence the water "beads" off of your skin after you shave down and you are able to glide through the water with less friction. Shaving won't have a tremendous amount of effect on your time however, at most only a few tenths.
2006-12-29 08:44:16 · answer #1 · answered by sammy 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
it might not seem like a lot but the hair on your legs can create drag. its usually only makes a difference of about a few tenths of a second, but if you know swimming, that can make the difference between winning/losing or making/not making a certain time. people usually let there hair grow out longer during tapering and then shave it right before a big meet.
its not a myth. its totally normal.
2006-12-31 16:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by softballgirl0127 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It actually has very little physical effect. It is supposed to reduce "skin friction" which in swimming is already very little. However, some people think that shaving your arms gives you a better "feel" of the water during your stroke. Mainly, shaving is mental. For my team, we shave for our sectional and state meets only, and therefore shaving is a special thing we do only when we know we have to go fast.
2006-12-31 00:41:13 · answer #3 · answered by The Q Meister 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mostly shaving your legs is a way of reducing friction as you move through the water, however the bigger part is psychological. Shaving your legs is like a placebo, basically it is all mental thinking that helps you move faster.
I am a swimmer and a swim instructor
2006-12-30 00:38:20 · answer #4 · answered by Sam's jam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shaving your legs does improve your times. I shaved my arms and cut two seconds, and in swimming time thats a lot. Your body is smoother when you have no hair or barley any hair. That is why most girls wear swimming caps and the suits are very tight, my swim team calls them their extra skin.
http://www.hhp.ufl.edu/faculty/pbird/keepingfit/ARTICLE/SHAVING.HTM
2007-01-02 01:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the friction between you body and the water is lower so you go faster and could be the difference between wining and losing. i always thought that it wouldn't make a difference too, till i tried it don't try it your legs will look hairy its gross and you'll slow down some and loose when you should win.
I am a swimmer and i know men not on my team but on the mens team that have shaved their legs- !?!?!weird!?!?
2006-12-31 21:37:25 · answer #6 · answered by Kat girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aerodynamics, same reason most pro swimmers shave everything outside teh swimsuit area(and more) and wear the skull cap, every hair sticking out slows you down, well by a hair, so if you are shaved bare, the water simply glides of the smooth skin
2006-12-29 16:47:15 · answer #7 · answered by janssen411 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It only improves your swimming if you are a high-level competitive swimmer. It will knock of hundredths of a second, which is important in the Olympics.
2007-01-02 14:22:14 · answer #8 · answered by Fireball 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people no swim teams go whole seasons without shaving anything at all and then for like... finals, they shave everythnig so that the friction is reduced and they swim faster.
2006-12-29 16:47:55 · answer #9 · answered by harpielingo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It removes the drag from your legs and arms that is caused by hair and dead skin cells. Don't bother doing it unless you are rather competitive. It will generally help you drop roughly 2 seconds (at least it does for me).
2006-12-30 10:42:01 · answer #10 · answered by cowsvils 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋