Varlion's story

Founded in Argentina in 1993, Varlion quickly opened its first factory in the same city and got to work developing the designs and producing some of the highest quality padel rackets the world has ever seen. 

in 1995 Felix Regalia, the brands founder and CEO, designed Varlion's first racket. Shortly after this, the brand relocated it's factory to Spain. This was the start of a legacy. 

Varlion is best known for investing heavily in its R&D team and being at the forefront in innovation in padel, always pushing the boundaries in materials used in a racket.

This review will be surrounding the new 2023 Radio models that Varlion have released. 

Bourne Summum Prisma Radio

This long awaited model has finally arrived! And as usual, Varlion has been very daring by challenging the rules and norms with new visual and technological innovations to make using this racket an experience you won't forget. The Bourne Summum Prisma boasts a boatload of power and equally loaded with cool new tech. 

Normally, padel rackets have the holes drilled into it once the process is almost finished. But what about Varlion? Of course not, it's too simple. 

Varlion has developed and patented the technology that allows for the holes to be moulded into the EVA rather than the holes having to be drilled. This results in a huge decrease in micro-fractures that occur after months of usage. 

This has made the process a revolution in the benchmark for durability and resistance. With the holes incorporated directly into the mould of the core, we get a significant increase in resistance, longevity and a lighter padel racket. This means that the face of the racket is less susceptible to micro cracks appearing between the holes. 

If the above sounds too complex, to simplify it the air passes "through" the racket easier making for a faster swing and speedy recovery. 

There are benefits to this though, the racket's structurally integrity is improved and you'll find it's more stable at the centre of the hitting surface. This makes for a great feel when playing. 

With it's diamond shape, high balance and mountains of tech, we forget what's at the heart of the racket. Here, you'll find a mid/hard core which is fairly common in these shaped rackets which are mainly attack focused.

Now please brace yourself for this... the face is made of 12K Italian carbon fibre. Now, is this better? Who cares?! You'll be a huge hit with padel nerds and sound cool at the local club. 

As the name suggests, this model also has Varlion's very popular “Summum” technology. This means that the handle is 2 cm longer than usual and the striking surface is also 1 cm longer than average. Thanks to those extra centimetres, you get better leverage in the kicks, a larger sweet-spot and ease for the two-handed backhand.

The Prisma frame is also included in the Summum package which provides stability and stiffness for a better feel, all while aiding airflow, reducing air resistance by 10% compared to a standard frame. 

We find the face has integrated Slice technology, which consists of a 3D textured surface for additional grip and, like the holes, the technology is also implemented directly into the mould. One small detail is that the lines are curved, giving it a larger surface area to make contact with. 

The Bumper Prisma is also present. The system consists on a mould that's made from thermoplastic polyurethane that is fantastic at absorbing shocks and scratches. It is glued on with a 3M adhesive, which saves having to drill the frame. 

I can't not mention the Diffusor Wings at the bottom of the racket. Bridging the gap between the face and the handle, these little wings are there to optimise aerodynamics by improving the movement of air through the racket by 27% compared to previous models.  

To conclude, it's definitely worth highlighting the HandleSafety technology, a new security system on the handle. Traditionally, the strap comes out of the central part of the handle, however, in this case the rope crosses the two walls of the handle and comes out on either side, offering 100% grip security and avoids any mishaps on the court and the players having to spin the racket round to tighten the strap. 

This model is of course manufactured in Varlion's own factory in Spain in order to guarantee a high quality of manufacture, and, for the most concerned about the environment, to offer a reduced carbon index.

Maxima Summum Prisma Radio