I have been a swimmer for about 7 or 8 years but I have never shaved my legs before, and the swimming team for my school starts in November. I have been training since summer, and I was wondering how many swimmers actually shave, and how does it help? should I shave my legs? and if so, should I do it now so I can get used to it?
Parents
Former Member
In bicycling and auto racing it is aerodynamic resistance that limits speed - look what effort is spent reducing resistance in those sports. In swimming what limits speed is hydrodynamic resistance - look what effort is spent improving form and thus reducing resistance. Anything that reduces resistance will improve speed, including shaving.
It is not apriori obvious that shaving should reduce resistance - smooth surfaces are not always better than rough ones - look at golf balls. But the evidence is that smooth skin is better than hairs waving around with lots of trapped air bubbles. (My opinion - it is the bubbles that are the problem. Look at your hairy skin after you jump in the water, it will be covered with bubbles. Also, look at how water flows off of shaved skin, compared to unshaved skin, after you get out of the water -- it is a big difference.)
In bicycling and auto racing it is aerodynamic resistance that limits speed - look what effort is spent reducing resistance in those sports. In swimming what limits speed is hydrodynamic resistance - look what effort is spent improving form and thus reducing resistance. Anything that reduces resistance will improve speed, including shaving.
It is not apriori obvious that shaving should reduce resistance - smooth surfaces are not always better than rough ones - look at golf balls. But the evidence is that smooth skin is better than hairs waving around with lots of trapped air bubbles. (My opinion - it is the bubbles that are the problem. Look at your hairy skin after you jump in the water, it will be covered with bubbles. Also, look at how water flows off of shaved skin, compared to unshaved skin, after you get out of the water -- it is a big difference.)
