I have been a NAASE and Chevrolet Certified Mechanic for many years and have had many ratchets, good and bad, from aftermarket discounts to tools for Mac and Snap-On. I have a 30 year old Snap-On 1/2 drive that still works fine, but this GearWrench ratchet is my new favorite. First of all, the number of teeth plays a major role. Less rotation is required to tighten bolts/nuts Secondly, unlike Snap-On, the gearing resistance is much less and works much better when the bolt/nut is free to rotate Thirdly, the length of the handle is about 33-50% longer than that most standard 1/2" drive ratchets, much better for screws that would use a 1/2" drive tool, but not as long as a broken bar. Finally, the contour of the grip is similar to Snap-On, which means it's very comfortable. So far in 4 months this ratchet has proven to be as good if not better than any comparable product I have ever purchased from a tool cart while working at a dealership center. I will definitely look to GearWrench for other ratchets I need in the future.