[nolan5000]

I'm not sure how they would grade modern patch cards but with regular issued cards they grade things like; surface gloss, print defects and clarity or focus of the card. The grade will get knocked down if the card has surface scratches, indentations, creases, print spots or print lines, smudges, writing (like from a marker, pen or pencil), any kind of water or liquid damage and basically any kind of damage that would take away from the aesthetic presentation of the card.
In my experience, surface grading has been the most difficult. You really have to look at the surface at all angles and in different lighting to see if there are any kind surface defects.

Forgot to mention you can always look at Beckett's grading criteria on the website. This may give you a better idea of what to look for on cards.

Exactly correct!!

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With BGS, and Im not kidding about this, so far as much as a fingerprint on a glossy card can knock down a grade a full 2 points. This is why some ppl say to be sure the surface is wiped clean by one of those tiny cloth wipes you use for an ipad before sending in to grade.

This is true too!!