Long-time questions on shaving

RE: Long-time questions on shaving

Former Member — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 14:32:44 GMT

Shaving your body exposes new skin cells to the water and thus results in a better feel. The thin top layer of your skin is dead. You can see how easy it comes off by lightly scraping a finger nail across your opposing hand. By shaving the top layer off, you expose billions of new cells to feel whatever they are exposed to. In swimming I believe that it is more physiological than physical or mental. Of course, the physical and mental have to go hand in hand with the physiological. If a swimmer does not like to shave because it makes them feel less sociable, that swimmer is not going to benefit from the effects. And if the swimmer has not gone to work and put the time in, a shave will not have the effect. I find that my swimmers go crazy when they shave. I have found that my swimmers will get on average up to 1 second in a 50, 2 in a hundred, 4 in a 200, many in distances over 200. This past season I had a swimmer drop 25 seconds from 5:25 in the 500 to 5:00 and 10 seconds in the 400IM from 4:32 to 4:22 and make YNats. Now was that because he worked his ars off everyday twice a day to the point of exhaustion? or was it the shave? I think it was both, plus the fact that he is has a great mental attitude. I do not think he would have gotten such a drop if he didn't shave. But would he have dropped time? I believe so, just not as much.

RE: Long-time questions on shaving

Former Member — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:10:11 GMT

They say that the performance boost in a shave is all mental. But anyone who knows the feeling of jumping in the water with newly shaved skin would say otherwise. I never really liked it...even though my coach asked me to shave at least three times a year during the dual meets for the 50 free. The sensation of what I can only describe as a very very minor electric shock ~sort of tingling~ feeling ...was akin to the rider's crop on a horse's hind quarters. At this stage and age in life...it might be difficult to explain to your friends and co-workers why your legs are shaved. :) Thus the FastSkin II. Notice how Brendan Hansen swims in jammers only. As they mentioned however in the FastSkin thread...the breaststrokers relied first and foremost on the *feel* for the water. Perhaps this is why you had such a benefit.

RE: Long-time questions on shaving

Allen Stark — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 12:21:19 GMT

Shaving undoubtedly made a difference,but i doubt it was the only factor. Swimming fast begets swimming fast. Maybe you were especially psyched for the first big drop,or maybe your stroke just clicked or something. Then your body knew you could do it and there was no stopping you. As a general rule breaststrokers benefit from a taper more than the other strokes.