Actually; sorry but I fly max settings exclusively. Don't want to sound like I'm bragging; truly.
Weird as it sounds; I've always believed the fact that I started as a sailplane pilot - and thence to a tow-pilot - has given me a good advantage in my powered flight - a good feel for building and maintaining energy.

Try hauling a 233 with max-weight pilots off the ground with a Citabria on a really hot day; you get the idea pretty quick.

("Speed up...speed up!
ACCELLERATE, you miserable clunkin' ugly green piece of trash!!!! 
)
And of course; add to that the little fact that you never...EVER... get experienced pilots on tow in those conditions; he's just GOTTA be letting the student handle the takeoff for the very...first...time...