Varlion
LW Summum Carbon Black Orquidea 2024
A round control frame with an extended grip and a slightly longer hitting surface — built for the right-side player who resets rallies from the back wall and lives on the two-handed backhand.
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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 central sweet spot — forgives off-centre contact from the bottom of the court
Summum geometry adds 1cm to the handle and 1cm to the hitting surface, which favours two-handed backhands and longer reach on stretched defensive shots
Fiberglass face over a medium-soft EVA core keeps the response cushioned and arm-friendly despite the carbon laminations
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
345–360g
Year
2024
Shape
Round
Level
Professional
Style
Control
Balance
Low
Core
EVA SOFTCOLOR CORE
Face
Fiberglass
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 Summum Carbon Black Orquidea 2024 is a right-side control racket dressed up in premium clothing — its real value is the extended grip and longer hitting surface, not raw power. Buy it if you play defence with a two-handed backhand and want a forgiving, arm-friendly frame; skip it if you're trying to win points from the left side. The Summum tech genuinely changes how the racket sits in the hand, which is rarer than most spec sheets admit.
Strengths
Right-side defenders who absorb pace and reset points from the back of the court
Players with two-handed backhands who want a longer grip and more leverage on low balls
Keep in mind
Left-side attackers who finish points with overhead pace — the round head and low balance leave power on the table
How it's built to play
The LW Summum Carbon Black Orquidea 2024 sits in an unusual spot in Varlion's catalogue: a round, low-balance control shape carrying the brand's premium Summum geometry, which is normally associated with attacking palas. The combination only makes sense if you understand who it's aimed at — the right-side player who needs reach, a forgiving sweet spot, and a longer handle for two-handed backhands, not a finisher looking for overhead pop.
Construction is a bidirectional carbon tubular frame wrapped with carbon and fiberglass laminations over a medium-hardness EVA Softcolor core, with the outer face listed as fiberglass — which is what gives this racket its softer, more flexible contact compared to a full-carbon build. The Hexagon frame profile uses one flat edge and two chamfered sides to resist deformation on frame hits, and the adhesive AB-style protector is shaped to match it, keeping bumper weight down and reducing vibration that would otherwise travel up the frame.
The Summum package is where the racket earns its name. The 13.5cm grip gives two-handed backhand players a real second hand position rather than overlapping fingers; the extra centimetre of hitting surface stretches the playable face downward, which matters when you're scraping balls off the back glass. Aerodynamic Drilling avoids the dead-air zone in the geometric centre of the face, which keeps the central area structurally stiffer and visibly widens the usable sweet spot.
"The Summum handle and surface are a bigger difference than the numbers suggest — one extra centimetre of grip changes how two-handed players load the backhand."
The Slice 3D texture adds enough surface friction to bite the ball on cut shots — useful for the bandeja and chiquita game this racket is designed to live on.
On court the feel is soft and absorbent. The medium-hardness EVA core combined with the fiberglass face gives a noticeable trampoline effect on slow swings — exactly what a right-side player wants when blocking hard balls back into play. The low balance and 345–360g weight range mean the racket swings faster than its 38mm profile suggests, and the extended grip changes how the wrist loads on backhand drives, especially for two-handed players.
"It would rather you place the ball deep and wait for the error than end the point yourself — for right-side players, that's not a limitation, that's the brief."
Where it runs out of road is on offence. The round head and low balance mean overhead smashes don't carry the same penetration as a diamond or even an aggressive teardrop — you're working for power that other rackets give you for free. The Slice 3D texture helps generate spin on viboras, but the racket would rather you place the ball deep and wait for the error than try to end the point yourself.
FAQ
How does the LW Summum Carbon Black Orquidea 2024 compare to the LW Prisma Carbon?
Both are round control rackets, but the Summum adds a 13.5cm grip and a longer hitting surface — meaningful upgrades if you play two-handed backhands or need more reach. The Prisma Carbon is the more conventional choice with a standard 12.5cm grip and the patented aerodynamic frame profile for slightly faster swing speed. Choose the Summum if grip length matters; choose the Prisma if you want a faster-feeling round racket.
Should I choose the LW Summum Carbon Black Orquidea or the Bourne Summum Carbon Black?
They share the same Summum geometry and similar construction, but Varlion's Bourne line is balanced more towards versatility on both sides of the court, while the LW (Lethal Weapon) line is tuned for control and back-of-court defending. Right-side specialists who absorb pace will prefer the LW Orquidea; players who want a single racket for both sides should look at the Bourne Summum.
Is this racket suitable for beginners despite being a round control shape?
Not really. The shape and low balance are forgiving, but the Summum geometry — extended grip, longer hitting surface — is built for players who already have a defined style and a two-handed backhand technique. A first-year player would be better served by a simpler round racket without the extra geometry to adapt to.
What does the Summum technology actually change on court?
Three concrete things: the 13.5cm grip gives space for a proper second hand on two-handed backhands rather than crowding the fingers; the 1cm longer face extends your reach on low balls and back-wall recoveries; and the Diffuser Wings bridge reduces drag through the swing. Combined, the racket sits differently in the hand than a standard 12.5cm-grip pala — that's the real differentiator.
Is this a good option for players with elbow problems?
It has a lower-risk profile than most: round shape, low balance, medium-hardness EVA, fiberglass face and a light-to-medium weight range all reduce the vibration load on the arm. The adhesive AB-style protector and Hexagon frame also keep frame resonance down. It won't fix bad technique, but among Varlion's lineup it's one of the more arm-friendly options for players returning from elbow sensitivity.
Made for elbow-conscious players.
A round control frame with an extended grip and a slightly longer hitting surface — built for the right-side player who resets rallies from the back wall and lives on the two-handed backhand.
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