Does shaving body hair really shave off seconds in swimming?

Question

Does shaving body hair really shave off seconds in swimming?

Answer 1

It really does help, its not going to shave off seconds of course i mean in swimming its great if your time improves by 0.2, and its not all psychological why would you want your hair dragging when everything could be smoothe? So my answer is definitley yes, but not seconds.

Answer 2

it helps psychologically

Answer 3

Not seconds, but it really does prevent drag. Many aspects help prevent drag so the swimmer can have a smooth swim. A tight suit, calm water, everything along those lines.

Answer 4

in swimming we don't talk about seconds but milliseconds so in that aspect yes it does help

Answer 5

body hair does create a little bit of drag but it is definitely more psychological, than physical.  

Answer 6

Yes, absolutely.  For women there obviously is not as much drag, but the sudden lack of hair on the skin stimulates the skin.  I have personal experience.  In my high school finals I shaved SEVERAL seconds off my 200 m individual medley.

Answer 7

Its not so much the weight of the hair, as the drag it creates; hairless skin is more aerodynamic.