The first reel I got was a spinner and I hated it. If you forget to press the button one time you can kiss your arrow goodbye. I have 3 AMS Retrievers and none of them have given me problems, they are much more safer than the spinners. I will admit that you have to get a feel for them at first cause if you dont know what your going it will take you forever to get your line back in while fish are swimming around you. Like they always say you get what you pay for.