I use in the up position (1) when using the FEL when digging into dirt piles and down (3) when mowing, never had a need for the middle, still wished it would release faster in the up position, depending how fast that I come into the pile of dirt, it will still bog the motor before the HST fully disengages. If you're rolling kind of fast and it's in the up position and release the pedal fairly quick, it's like slamming on the breaks, if it's in the down position it will coast some and come to a slower stop, great for mowing.