I check the pH three times... once at the start of the mash (I generally target 5.2 - 5.3) and then I also spike my sparge water with lactic acid and make sure that the sparge pH is also in the same low-to-mid 5.x area and then I check the kettle pH. The mash pH is supposed to be for the optimal mash pH (efficiency, conversion, yield?) and the sparge pH is really just to make sure that I'm not approaching anywhere even close to 6.0 (tannin extraction, etc). I expect the kettle pH to be in my 5.3-ish range and I notice that when I have a good kettle pH, my beers have that refreshing, crisp character. I hesitate to call it an "acid snap" because you don't pick up the lactic acid flavor but I think it creates a pleasing overall character in the beer. The opposite of what some brewers refer to as a "flabby" beer which ends up being sort of dull and lifeless. Each of the spots where I measure pH are for different reasons. Cheers Beerheads.