Varlion
Bourne Hexagon 8.8
A softened diamond shape with a low-density core that does the work for you — built for first-year players who want to feel the ball jump off the face.
Highlights
✓ Bourne shape splits the difference between diamond and teardrop — roughly 60% power, 40% control, so it punches above its beginner billing without demanding diamond-level technique
✓ EVA HYPERSOFT core paired with a fiberglass face keeps dwell time long and vibration low, which matters at 345-355g where stiffer builds would chatter on mishits
✓ Aerodynamic Drilling leaves the geometric center of the face un-drilled, widening the usable hit zone for players who don't yet make consistent center contact
Details and Technologies
| Weight | 345–355g |
| Shape | diamond |
| Balance | medium |
| Level | beginner |
| Style | all_around |
| Core | EVA HYPERSOFT |
| Face | fiberglass |
| Thickness (mm) | 38 |
Who is this racket for?
✓ Ideal for
First-year players who want a racket that rewards the swing with rebound rather than asking for clean technique
Recreational club players who like the look of a diamond head but need fiberglass-level forgiveness to keep rallies alive
✗ Not recommended for
Advanced left-side attackers — the soft core caps the power ceiling and the medium balance won't drive overheads like a true diamond
Aimed at players in their first year of padel; intermediates with developing technique can still get use out of it but will outgrow the soft response within a season.
Review
The Bourne Hexagon 8.8 sits in an awkward but useful place: a diamond-shaped head on paper, but softened in every direction that matters for a beginner. Varlion's 'Bourne' silhouette pulls the sweet spot down slightly from a true diamond, and the HYPERSOFT core takes the sting out of the contact. The result is a racket that looks aggressive on the rack but plays like a forgiving teardrop in the hand.
Technical analysis
The core is low-density EVA HYPERSOFT at the full 38mm thickness, laminated with fiberglass — the combination most associated with long dwell time, ball pocketing, and arm comfort. The heart is reinforced with carbon fiber set in Varlion's VAR-FLEX epoxy resin and finished with a titanium dioxide layer; in practice this stiffens the throat enough to keep the soft face from feeling hollow on harder hits, without changing the overall soft character. Aerodynamic Drilling is the spec worth understanding here. Varlion leaves the geometric center of the face undrilled because fluid-dynamics testing showed central holes generate turbulence and weaken the core in the prime contact zone. For a beginner who hits all over the face, that translates to a wider effective sweet spot and a more consistent rebound on off-center contact — the exact failure mode this racket is built to forgive. Handlesafety routes the wrist cord through both walls of the handle rather than a single central hole, which is a durability and safety upgrade rather than a performance one.
On court
On court the Hexagon 8.8 plays softer than its diamond outline suggests. From the back of the court the fiberglass face flexes into the ball and the soft core holds it briefly, so slower swings still produce depth — exactly what a first-year player needs when technique is inconsistent. Volleys are easy to block back; the racket does the absorbing rather than spitting the ball off the strings. The ceiling shows up overhead. The medium balance and 345-355g weight mean smashes don't carry the mass of a true diamond, and the soft core compresses rather than detonating. That's the trade Varlion has made on purpose — power that feels accessible at beginner swing speeds, but won't keep up once the player learns to generate real racket-head speed.
Verdict
The Hexagon 8.8 is the right buy for a club player in their first year who wants a diamond-looking racket without the punishment a real diamond delivers — the soft core and undrilled center give it a wider margin for error than the silhouette suggests. The honest limit is the power ceiling: anyone already smashing with intent on the left side will find it muted and should look at a stiffer, heavier frame in the same shape family.
Gallery
FAQ
Is the Bourne Hexagon 8.8 really a beginner racket if it's diamond-shaped?
Yes — the shape is a softened hybrid Varlion calls 'Bourne', not a pure diamond, and the HYPERSOFT core plus fiberglass face are firmly in beginner territory. The sweet spot sits higher than a round racket but the forgiveness comes from the soft core and Aerodynamic Drilling rather than the outline. It plays much closer to a forgiving teardrop than to an attacking diamond like the Vertex or LW Hexagon Pro.
How does the Bourne Hexagon 8.8 2024 compare to the LW Hexagon 8.8?
Same shape family, different intent. The LW Hexagon 8.8 sits a tier above with a stiffer feel and more carbon content, aimed at intermediate players who already make consistent contact. The Bourne version is the entry into the line — softer core, more rebound on slow swings, and a wider forgiveness zone. Pick the Bourne if you're in your first year; step up to the LW when you start feeling the soft core mush on harder hits.
Will this racket cause elbow problems?
It's on the lower-risk side of the scale for a diamond-shaped frame: the HYPERSOFT core and fiberglass face both dampen vibration, and the weight stays under 355g. The medium balance keeps mass away from the head, reducing the torque that aggravates the elbow on mishits. Players returning from epicondylitis should still favor a true round shape with low balance, but as diamonds go this is a comparatively arm-friendly build.
Should I choose the Bourne Hexagon 8.8 or a round beginner racket?
If you want maximum forgiveness and have no preference about shape, a round racket will still give you a slightly larger central sweet spot and more control on resets. Choose the Bourne Hexagon 8.8 if you want a touch more pop on attacking shots and you're willing to accept a sweet spot that sits a bit higher on the face — it suits players who already know they enjoy hitting overheads and don't want to outgrow their first racket within six months.
What does Aerodynamic Drilling actually do for my game?
It's a hole-pattern decision: Varlion deliberately leaves the geometric center of the face undrilled because their fluid-dynamics testing showed central holes create turbulence and weaken the core where you most want stiffness. For a beginner, the practical effect is a more consistent rebound across the face and a wider usable hit zone — you'll notice fewer dead responses on mishits a few centimeters off-center.