Varlion
Maxima Summum ARG
A rounded teardrop that swings closer to a control racket than the shape suggests — for players who want to manage rallies before they finish them.
Highlights
✓ Rounded teardrop shape with medium balance — sweet spot sits slightly above center but stays usable across the face
✓ Hypersoft medium-hardness core paired with 12K carbon faces — softer touch than a pure attacking pala, with enough rebound for finishing shots
✓ Extended 14.5 cm grip suits two-handed backhands and ex-tennis players who choke up on the handle
Details and Technologies
| Weight | 345–355g |
| Shape | teardrop |
| Balance | medium |
| Level | professional |
| Style | all_around |
| Core | Hypersoft foam (medium hardness) |
| Face | carbon fiber |
Who is this racket for?
✓ Ideal for
Advanced all-court players who construct points and only attack when the ball is there
Players with two-handed backhands or large hands who need extra handle length
✗ Not recommended for
Beginners — the carbon face and 'professional' positioning mean any mishit punishes the arm
Realistically a 3+ year player who already controls direction off both wings; the medium balance and soft core are forgiving, but the carbon construction expects clean contact.
Review
The Maxima Summum ARG is the limited Argentina edition built around the 2022 Mendoza Premier Padel event, and it sits in Varlion's all-court Maxima line — a rounded teardrop that grew out of merging the round LW and teardrop Avant. The point of this racket isn't power for power's sake. It's a control-leaning frame with a sweet spot you can actually find, dressed in pro-level materials.
Technical analysis
The core is Hypersoft foam at medium hardness — Varlion's middle step between their Winter (softer) and Summer (firmer) cores — laminated with a 12K carbon weave, a 3K plain carbon layer, and a thin fiberglass sheet. That stack matters: the fiberglass under the carbon takes the edge off the stiffness, so you get carbon's direct feedback without the dead, board-like response of a pure carbon build. The Rhombus Carbon Fabric weave on the faces is the same idea — 12K carbon arranged in a diamond pattern to keep the hitting surface slightly more flexible than a tight plain weave. The Prisma frame is the structural headline. Its hexagonal-prism cross-section cuts air resistance by around 10% versus a standard round frame, which you feel as faster swing acceleration on bandejas and reactive volleys. The frame is held together by Hexaforce-style throat reinforcement and the Diffuser Wings bridge, a NACA-profile insert that channels air through the heart instead of letting it stall there — the on-court translation is a more predictable racket head through fast strokes. Summum bundles the long 14.5 cm handle, an extra centimeter of hitting surface, 76 graduated drillings, and the Diffuser Wings into one package; the bigger drilling pattern is what stretches the sweet spot lower toward the throat without making the face feel hollow.
On court
On contact the racket reads softer than its 'professional' tag suggests. The Hypersoft core lets the ball sit on the strings just long enough to place it, which is why this works as a right-side racket even though the shape leans teardrop. Flat drives off the bounce come out controlled rather than explosive — you have to swing through the ball to get pace, the racket won't fire it back for you. Where it earns the pro label is in the second and third shot of a rally. The Prisma frame and Diffuser Wings genuinely move the head faster through bandejas and viboras, and the Slice texture grips the ball on cut shots so you can vary trajectory without telegraphing. Overheads are competent rather than punishing — at 345–355g with a medium balance, this isn't going to out-hit a diamond on a clean smash, and a strong left-side attacker will feel the ceiling. The trade-off is that it's far kinder to the elbow than most carbon pro rackets.
Verdict
The Maxima Summum ARG suits the advanced all-court player who plays both sides or holds down the right against aggressive opponents — the long handle and forgiving core make it a natural fit for two-handed backhands and players who attack with placement rather than raw pace. Where it runs out is on the left side against power hitters: the medium balance and softer core won't finish points the way a true diamond will. As a 2022 limited edition tied to Mendoza Premier Padel, availability is the other honest limitation.
Gallery
FAQ
How does the Maxima Summum ARG compare to the standard Maxima Summum Prisma?
The ARG is the limited Mendoza Premier Padel 2022 edition — same Prisma frame, Summum technology package, Hypersoft medium core, and 12K Rhombus carbon faces as the standard Maxima Summum Prisma. The differences are cosmetic and collector-related rather than performance-based. If you're choosing on playability, treat them as the same racket; if you're choosing on availability, the standard Summum Prisma is the easier one to find.
Should I choose the Maxima Summum ARG or the Bourne Summum Prisma?
Both share the Prisma frame and Summum package, but the shape changes the game. The Maxima is a rounded teardrop with a more centered sweet spot — better for the right side and all-court players who value control. The Bourne Summum sits closer to a true teardrop with more weight up top, which makes it the better pick for left-side players who want to finish points. Pick by court position, not by spec sheet.
Is this racket good for players with elbow problems?
Compared to most pro-level carbon rackets, yes — the medium-hardness Hypersoft core and the fiberglass layer under the carbon take noticeable vibration off the contact, and the 345–355g weight keeps swing strain lower. It's not as arm-friendly as a soft-foam fiberglass beginner racket, but among carbon-faced 'professional' rackets, this is one of the lower-risk options. Players returning from epicondylitis should still test it before committing.
What does the long 14.5 cm handle actually change?
Standard padel grips are 11–12.5 cm. The extra 2 cm gives room for two-handed backhands without choking the upper hand against the bridge, and it lets larger-handed players grip lower for stability or higher for control. If you don't play two-handed and have average hands, you'll barely notice it; if you do, it's the main reason to buy this racket.
Is the Maxima Summum ARG worth it for an intermediate player?
A strong intermediate who plays cleanly off the back wall can absolutely use it — the rounded shape and soft core forgive more than the 'professional' label implies. A developing intermediate still building consistency will get more out of a fiberglass-faced teardrop, because the carbon construction punishes mishits with vibration even when the core absorbs some of it. Honest answer: borrow one before buying.