LW Hexagon 8.8 is back with a new design, and just like the previous year's model, it is probably the most affordable padel racket for beginners, simply the ultimate beginner's racket that can still be used over time and keep up with your development as a player. What has made LW Hexagon 8.8 a success is that the racket feels stable without being expensive. LW is the brand's name for the round shape of the racket where the focus is really on control. The model has a frame made of a mix of carbon fiber and fiberglass. This way, you get both stability and flex when you hit your shot. On the surface, the LW 8.8 then has a layer of fiberglass to give you a forgiving hit on the ball, and together with the core, you can easily handle slight off-hits and set speed on the ball from almost anywhere on the hitting surface. Just like in several of Varlion's rackets, this model also has holes that are drilled in different sizes, something the brand calls GRADUAL HOLES. This means that the holes are made smaller in the middle so that you can have as much of the hitting surface under the ball as possible, then made larger the closer they get to the frame. The reason for this is to give you a larger sweet spot, regardless of the model, and a more forgiving feel. HANDLESAFETY means that the wrist strap is attached to the handle instead of the knob to make it almost impossible for the strap to come off. This model is made 100% by hand in Spain in the brand's very own factories.