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Pal Pad (Sword & Shield 172/202) — is it worth grading?

Is Pal Pad worth grading?

Pokémon · Sword & Shield · 172/202 · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

PSA 9 copies of Pal Pad sell for $4.00, only $3.81 above the $0.19 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($4.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.

Raw (NM)
$0.19
PSA 9
$4.00
PSA 9
$4.00
Gem premium
21×
As of
Aug 10, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Pal Pad: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…Sells forEconomy / bulk (~$25.00)Standard (~$50.00)Express (~$150)
Gem — PSA 9$4.00−$21.19−$46.19−$146
PSA 9$4.00−$21.19−$46.19−$146

Net = sale price − $0.19 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.

Expected value — how often does it need to gem?

Pal Pad: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gemsExpected saleExpected net (standard fee)
25%$4.00−$46.19
50%$4.00−$46.19
75%$4.00−$46.19

At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.

Pal Pad graded prices by company and grade
GradePSA
9$4.00

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.

Other Sword & Shield cards worth checking

Full set checklist →

Grading Pal Pad — FAQ

Is Pal Pad worth grading?

PSA 9 copies of Pal Pad sell for $4.00, only $3.81 above the $0.19 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($4.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.

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