The reduction in volume of work will not result in a decreased performance ability. All performance factors are maintained at this important period of time. This only plays a small part in heightening performance capacity. The length of a taper will vary too. This can be done over a long period of time or a relatively short period.
Studies also show the same taper can be effective for the high volume and lower volume groups.
Shaving down has been a long-time companion of the taper. Shaving down for a swim meet is for gaining an advantage of a few tenths of a second. Shaving results in faster swims independent of training. The advantages of shaving are related to a decrease in drag to be overcome by a swimmer. The final result is that less power application in the pull pattern is required to overcome that drag.