Varlion
Bourne Prisma Carbon Soft
A teardrop built for players who attack from both sides but still want the ball to sit on the face for a fraction longer before it leaves.
Highlights
✓ 20K Carrera carbon face with a rhomboid weave — stiffer hitting zone than 12K builds, but the softer EVA core takes the edge off contact
✓ Summum system: 14.5cm handle (vs the standard 12.5cm) plus an extended hitting surface, which actually changes how the racket plays on two-handed backhands and stretched volleys
✓ Prisma frame profile cuts roughly 10% of air drag versus a round tube — noticeable on bandejas and quick exchanges at the net
Details and Technologies
| Weight | 345–360g |
| Shape | teardrop |
| Balance | medium |
| Level | professional |
| Style | all_around |
| Core | EVA SOFTCOLOR Core |
| Face | Carbon Carrera 20K |
| Thickness (mm) | 38 |
Who is this racket for?
✓ Ideal for
Advanced all-court players who attack from the left but don't want a full diamond's mishit penalty
Two-handed backhand players who benefit from the longer 14.5cm grip and extended hitting zone
✗ Not recommended for
Beginners and improvers — the 20K carbon face is too stiff and demands consistent central contact
Built for advanced and competitive players with 3+ years of consistent technique; intermediates will find the stiffness punishing on mishits.
Review
The Bourne Prisma Carbon Soft 2025 sits in an interesting spot in Varlion's lineup — it carries the aggressive Prisma frame and a high-thread-count 20K carbon face, but pairs them with a softer EVA core to keep the hit from feeling brittle. The result is a teardrop that swings like an attacking racket but doesn't punish the arm the way a diamond-shaped Carrera build would. It's aimed at advanced players who want one racket for both sides of the court.
Technical analysis
The face uses 20K Carrera carbon woven in a 20x20mm rhomboid pattern, which is denser than the 12K weaves found on most premium rackets — that means a stiffer hitting surface, smoother visual finish, and more direct energy transfer. Behind that, the SOFTCOLOR EVA core is rubber-pigmented to match the cosmetics, but more importantly it sits on the softer end of the EVA scale, so the ball compresses for a fraction longer at contact and the racket transmits less shock back up the arm. Everything is bonded with VAR-FLEX epoxy, which is Varlion's in-house resin formulation designed to flex slightly under impact rather than crack — meaningful for durability if you regularly hit the back glass on overheads. The Prisma frame is the structural headline: a prism-shaped profile that reduces air resistance by around 10% versus a round tube, which you feel as quicker racket-head speed on bandejas and reactive volleys. Underneath that, the Diffuser Wings bridge channels airflow through the throat to keep the swing path stable, and the Ergoholes graduated drilling pattern (larger holes near the frame, smaller near the centre) widens the sweet spot without leaving structural soft spots. The Summum system bundles a 14.5cm extended handle with a longer hitting surface — small numbers on paper, but they change how the racket sits on two-handed backhands and how far you can stretch on defensive lobs.
On court
On contact, the Prisma Carbon Soft hits with the directness you expect from 20K carbon but without the brittle, glassy feel that high-thread weaves often give you. Smashes come off cleanly and with depth, and the medium balance means you can still react at the net without the head feeling like it wants to drop. The ErgoSlice surface texture noticeably bites into the ball on viboras and slices — it's a softer texture than some of Varlion's rougher finishes, so spin generation is consistent without tearing through ball felt within a few sessions. Where it shows its limit is at the very top of the power curve: a left-side specialist who finishes points exclusively overhead will get more raw pace from a diamond build with a harder core. This racket is asking you to play more shots — slice, bandeja, attacking volley, finishing smash — rather than just hammer winners. Off-centre hits on the lower half of the face lose noticeable pace, which is the trade-off you accept with a stiff 20K weave even when the core is softer.
Verdict
The Prisma Carbon Soft is for the advanced all-court player who attacks from the left but doesn't want a full diamond's penalty on mishits — the softer core takes the worst of the vibration out of a 20K carbon face. It earns its price on the longer Summum handle and the genuinely quicker swing of the Prisma frame, not on raw smash power. If you finish points purely by hitting harder, a head-heavier diamond will give you more; if you finish them by hitting smarter, this is the build to look at.
Gallery
FAQ
How does the Bourne Prisma Carbon Soft 2025 compare to the Maxima Prisma Carbon Soft?
Both share the Prisma frame, Summum handle and softer EVA core, but the Maxima is the diamond-shape version aimed at left-side attackers who finish overhead. The Bourne is the teardrop in the same family — same materials and feel, but the sweet spot sits lower and the racket is more forgiving on off-centre hits, making it the better all-court choice if you don't specialise purely on the left.
Should I choose the Bourne Prisma Carbon Soft or the LW Carbon 3 Summum?
At the same €294.90 price the LW Carbon 3 is a lighter, more control-leaning option built around the same Summum ergonomics, while the Bourne Prisma Carbon Soft is the more aggressive build with a stiffer 20K Carrera carbon face. If you play the right side and want maneuverability and feel, the LW makes more sense; if you swing freely and want more direct power from contact, the Bourne is the pick.
Is the 20K Carrera carbon face safe for players with elbow sensitivity?
The 20K carbon face is stiff and transmits more vibration than fiberglass or 3K builds, which is a risk factor for lateral epicondylitis. The softer SOFTCOLOR EVA core and the AB System bumper do reduce some of that transmission, but anyone returning from elbow injury should still approach this racket cautiously — a round shape with a fully soft core and fiberglass face is a lower-risk profile.
What does the Summum 14.5cm handle actually change in play?
The handle is 2cm longer than the standard 12.5cm grip, which gives two-handed backhand players proper room for both hands without the lower hand riding the butt cap. It also extends your effective reach on defensive lobs and stretched volleys, and pairs with a longer hitting surface to widen the sweet spot — small numbers on paper, real differences in how the racket sits in your hand.
Is this racket suitable for a strong intermediate, or only advanced players?
Varlion labels it as professional level and the 20K carbon face genuinely demands consistent central contact — off-centre hits lose pace sharply. A strong intermediate with clean technique and 2+ years of regular play can manage it, especially because the softer core is forgiving on the arm, but anyone still developing their swing path will find a teardrop with a fiberglass or hybrid face more rewarding.