Difference between short and long course swimming?

Answer 1

Short course swiimming is done in a 25m or 25yd pool while long course swimming is done in a 50m or 50yd pool. Short course swimming is usually faster due to the greater number of turns when you have the ability to push off the side.

The difference will depend on the quality of your turns. For Olympic standard swimmers it will usually make approximately 1 - 2 second per 100m.

Answer 2

because you have to swim farther before you reach a wall... less "breaks" everytime you reach a wall you get a "break" and an extra push off the wall.. with a longer pool you have less turns and therefore less breaks

Answer 3

Short couse is swum in a pool 25 yards long. Long course pools are 50 meters long.