It actually makes a big difference. Several sled lengths. For the guys on here that care about the dumbest little things, putting your scratchers up is a cheap and easy way to make your sled perform better. ??Hmm, now that's an interesting thought. I'll have to test that out. Off in the deep, though, I can't imagine it makes much of a difference. Granted you don't need them then but I also don't stop to put them up either.