Varlion
LW Prisma Carbon 3 2024
A round carbon frame built around a long 13.5cm handle and a soft pigmented core — control-first, but stiffer underfoot than most defensive rackets in its price band.
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Full spec breakdown
Listing checked at publish date
Highlights
What makes this racket stand out
Round shape with low balance and a wide sweet spot — built for defenders working from the back of the court
Summum 13.5cm handle adds reach for two-handed backhands and gives right-side players more leverage on resets
Carbon face over a soft EVA core: rare combo that pairs direct feedback with longer dwell time on contact
The feel
How it's built to play, by shape, core and construction — rated low / mid / high rather than on a false 1–10 scale. Higher isn't always better; it depends on the game you want.
Balance — where the weight sits
Even
Handle / low
Head / high
The spec sheet
Weight
350–365g
Year
2024
Shape
Round
Level
Professional
Style
Control
Balance
Low
Core
EVA SOFTCOLOR CORE
Face
Carbon fiber
Thickness (mm)
38
Our verdict
What the shape, core and construction tell us about how this racket is built to play.
The short version
The LW Prisma Carbon 3 2024 is the racket for a right-side player who measures their game in balls returned, not winners hit — the Summum handle and round head give it more feel and forgiveness than most carbon-faced control frames. The trade-off is honest: anyone who plays the left and finishes points overhead will feel the low balance working against them every time they go up for a smash. Buy it if you've consciously chosen to defend; skip it if you're still deciding what kind of player you are.
Strengths
Right-side players who absorb heavy balls at the back and need a forgiving hit zone
Control-oriented players using a two-handed backhand who want the extra grip length
Keep in mind
Attackers who finish points overhead — the low balance and soft core leave power on the table
How it's built to play
The LW Prisma Carbon 3 2024 is Varlion's reissue of its long-running LW Carbon 3 mould, brought up to date with the Summum handle, Prisma frame and Diffuser Wings bridge. It sits firmly in the control camp: round shape, low balance, soft EVA core, and a weight range (350–365g) that's lighter than most professional-line rackets. The intent is clear — a defender's tool for players who win matches by keeping balls in play, not by hitting through opponents.
The build is a bidirectional carbon tubular with a soft EVA SoftColor core — the pigmented foam that matches the cosmetic, with no performance impact beyond letting you see core uniformity. Faces are laminated in carbon and fibreglass layers with epoxy resin, finished with a titanium dioxide coating and a 3D Slice texture that adds genuine bite on sliced bandejas and viboras.
The frame is where this racket separates itself from a generic round control build. The Prisma profile is a chamfered cross-section that cuts air resistance by around 10% versus a standard round tube — meaningful here, because at 350g with a low balance the racket already wants to be fast, and the Prisma shape lets it accelerate without you muscling it. The Diffuser Wings bridge channels airflow through the heart instead of letting it stall at the throat. Aerodynamic Drilling skips the holes at the geometric centre, which expands the usable hit zone slightly. The 13.5cm Summum handle is the most consequential spec: a full centimetre longer than standard, which two-handed backhand players will feel immediately, and which also leaves room for a longer hitting surface above it.
"Prisma frame profile plus Diffuser Wings plus Aerodynamic Drilling — three drag-reduction decisions on a 350g round racket: that's not coincidence, it's a deliberate speed brief."
From the back of the court this is exactly what the shape promises — soft into the strings, easy to direct, and quick to swing for a carbon-faced racket. The soft SoftColor core lets you load the ball on slow defensive lobs without the frame snapping it back too hot, and the 3D Slice texture grabs enough to make sliced bandejas land short with intent rather than sailing. The wide sweet spot is the real benefit: off-centre contacts on returns and chest-height volleys don't twist the head, which is what right-side players need when they're handling the bulk of incoming volume.
"The 3D Slice texture grabs enough to make sliced bandejas land short with intent — not just a cosmetic finish but a shot-shaping tool."
Where it runs out is overhead. The low balance means there's no momentum helping the smash — power has to come entirely from the arm, and the soft core swallows some of what you put in. A diamond or even a teardrop in the same range will finish points the Prisma Carbon 3 can only neutralise. The Summum handle does make aggressive swings feel more locked in than the weight suggests, but the racket's ceiling is defined by its identity: this is a holder, not a hitter.
FAQ
How does the LW Prisma Carbon 3 2024 compare to a diamond-shaped attacking racket?
They solve opposite problems. A diamond pushes the sweet spot high and adds head weight for overhead finishing — at the cost of forgiveness and arm comfort. The Prisma Carbon 3 centres the sweet spot, drops the balance low, and softens the core, so it forgives mishits and resets points but won't put balls away from above the net. Pick the Prisma if you spend more time defending than attacking.
Is the LW Prisma Carbon 3 2024 actually a professional-level racket or can intermediates use it?
Varlion labels it professional because of the carbon construction and the Summum handle, but the round shape, low balance and soft core make it one of the more forgiving rackets in the pro tier. A strong intermediate with consistent groundstrokes will get on with it immediately — the racket doesn't demand the technical precision a diamond would.
Should I choose the LW Prisma Carbon 3 or a teardrop control racket at the same price?
If you play exclusively on the right and your game is built on resets, lobs and counters, the Prisma Carbon 3's round head and low balance will feel more natural. A teardrop will give you slightly more punch on volleys and bandejas at the cost of a smaller sweet spot — better if you play both sides or want one racket that can occasionally attack.
Is this racket safe for players with elbow problems?
The risk profile is mixed. The soft EVA core, low balance, light weight range and round shape all reduce vibration — those are arm-friendly factors. The carbon face works the other way, transmitting more feedback than fibreglass would. Players with active elbow issues should still treat it cautiously and consider a fibreglass-faced round racket for a lower-risk option.
What does the Summum 13.5cm handle actually change on court?
Two things. Two-handed backhand players get a proper second-hand grip without crowding the bottom hand off the butt. And the longer handle shifts the hitting surface up by about a centimetre, giving slightly more reach on stretched volleys. If you play a one-handed backhand and have small hands, the longer grip can feel unusual at first — give it a few sessions.
Made for elbow-conscious players.
A round carbon frame built around a long 13.5cm handle and a soft pigmented core — control-first, but stiffer underfoot than most defensive rackets in its price band.
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