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I own over 60 pickleball paddles now, and I have always looked for the perfect pickleball paddle that plays like a $150+ paddle, but the price tag is under $50.
It’s been a fun journey, but I have received many diamonds in the rough, which I have wrote about in the best budget pickleball paddles article.
The Doctor Pickleball paddle did not disappoint.
Firstly, I have not yet lost with this pickleball paddle after using this paddle to compete against the other top budget pickleball paddles.
This paddle has now taken the top 1 spot in my budget pickleball paddle collection under $50. Let me explain
In my first match with this paddle, I played a good friend that is around a 4.0 player. I was able to take the game. Next, I played against my previous top budget paddle, and lost that game with my friend playing with the Doctor pickleball paddle. Thirdly, I played with my previous runner up budget pickleball paddle and lost again.
There’s a lot to cover about the Doctor Pickleball surgical control paddle, so let’s get started with first impressions, playability, specifications and cost considerations.
First Impressions
Firstly, I love the design of the Doctor Surgical Control pickleball paddle. It is a very clean design with an echocardiogram monitor in the middle, playing with the medical type piece of this brand.
In surgery, you need to have control, so I also love the play on words.
What is going to set this paddle apart from other paddle is the thickness of the paddle to provide you ultimate control. From the side, you can see just how thick 20mm is.
When you weigh this paddle, you will notice that this a slightly heavier paddle at 8.5 ounces. I’ll mention later in playability, but you will notice a difference between a 20mm and 14mm pickleball paddle, in terms of hand speed. That said, I have found that 14mm paddles are generally harder to control the ball, but provide a more powerful paddle.
My first impressions of this paddle were awesome, but what really matters is how well this paddles plays on the court.
I gave you a hint of how well this paddle plays earlier, but I have another story I want to share.
Playability
The playability on this paddle has continued to be insane. This paddle is pegged as a control paddle, but I was actually able to get both spin and power with this paddle.
Control
Firstly, I have loved the control that I have had with this paddle. Firstly, I wanted to test this paddle’s effectiveness again this week in my games with a ~4.0 DUPR level friend.
In game 1, I started with a $10 pickleball paddle and lost the game 11-6. After a solid loss, I played with around an $80 carbon fiber weave pickleball paddle and barely won the second game 12-10.
In game 3, I played with my #1 favorite pickleball paddle, the Joola Ben Johns Hyperion CFS (which is around $150-$200), and won the game 11-8.
In game 4, I decided to play with the Doctor Surgical Control pickleball paddle, and had my best game yet.
I won 11-3.
In the game, I felt that I had such control of all of my shots. The grit on the paddle grips the ball, and the 20mm paddle thickness gives ample control to get your shots where you need them to fall.
Let’s talk about spin.
Spin
While this paddle is pegged as a control paddle, I still felt that I got ample spin with this paddle as well. For example, I tried my side spin serve where I serve from the right and try to peg the far right line of my opponent’s side forcing a backhand.
Mission accomplished.
I had one of the best serves that I have had recently. In addition, the paddle’s grit feels a bit milder than some of my other paddles, but I still felt that I had enough grit to put some mean spins on the pickleball ball.
Power
I was initially concerned that I would not get enough paddle power with this paddle given the 20mm thickness.
Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised. The paddle still provided ample power on my serves and returns. I am wondering if it’s because the paddle’s weight is slightly heavier, so you get more pop on the ball, even though your hand speed may be slightly slower.
Let’s talk about the features behind this paddle.
Specifications
According to the Doctor’s Pickleball website, here are the Surgical Control’s paddle specifications.
- 20mm Ultra-Thick Core: Ideal for players developing their skills, the thick core offers excellent ball control and a large sweet spot, helping you place shots with precision and consistency.
- Carbon Fiber Surface: The textured surface provides just the right amount of spin for strategic shots, while maintaining the power you need to make impactful plays.
- Reinforced Edge Shield: Adds durability and stability, ensuring your paddle stands up to extended use while protecting its core.
- Ergonomic Grip: Designed for comfort and control, the moisture-wicking, non-slip handle ensures a confident hold, perfect for long matches or practice sessions.
- Balanced Design for All-Around Play: With a paddle length of 16.5 inches, a width of 7.4 inches, and a lightweight build of 7.9 ounces, it’s crafted for easy maneuverability and reliable performance.
That said, let’s talk about the paddle’s cost.
Cost Considerations
As of right now, this paddle is under $70 on its store. One thing that I do love is that you can use the store and purchase it via Amazon Prime. So, you can get the potential benefits from purchasing from the online store, but you get the benefit of Amazon prime.
Voila.
Anyhow, check the price below to see whether you can snag this paddle for under $70.
Should You Purchase This Doctor Pickleball Paddle?
In my opinion, the Doctor surgical control pickleball paddle is a top budget pickleball paddle under $50. The paddle provided amazing control and surprisingly beat out my top Joola pickleball paddle recently.
I also felt that the paddle has great spin and power. As such, I would argue that this is fantastic pickleball paddle for beginner to intermediate players.
The potential only drawback would be that this paddle has a slightly larger handle, so if you have smaller hands, you may want to opt for a different paddle.
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