Michelle P wrote:

In talking to another pilot who has an 172 L has states that his manual
says if 10 degrees flaps are used it will decrease ground roll and
decrease climb rate. Having an overall detrimental affect.

The only definitive number the 172N manual states for flaps 10 degrees
is Vx.

First hand experience seems to confirm what the 172 L manual says.

I fly an N-model and would agree with all of the above. In a soft-field
situation there may be a moderate advantage to 10deg particularly at
lighter loadings. Based on my runnings of the numbers though the
difference looks likely to be lost in the detail.

NB- 10 degrees is standard for a 172N on floats, which I suppose is the
ultimate "soft field" situation.

-cwk.