@longthewings are you suggesting using weeklies instead of 40DTE?
If you want a pure play and need leverage... just use ES futures

ES Futures
- Unlimited loss.
- If stops are used then you run the risk of being stopped out, locking in a loss - any reversal will be without you.
SPY Options
- Limited loss, unlimited gain.
- More bang for the buck than futures.
- Can't get stopped out early.
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you should be selling spreads, think about it, harvest your directional edge + harvest decay & profit limited because your risk is caped. it's a turtle wins the race startegyHi,
I have been programming an I have good 60%~75% rate on picking the direction of spy in a swing trade for 3~7 days. I want to use options to get more leverage and lower the risk. However if I go long I am worry of Volatility crush + time decay.I don't want to use credit spreads or credit strategies. I want to minimize the exposure by using bare puts or calls. Do you have any toughs on how to harvest that 60% move?
Thanks,
EG
Buy and hold. Over 60% success rate.Hi,
I have been programming an I have good 60%~75% rate on picking the direction of spy in a swing trade for 3~7 days. I want to use options to get more leverage and lower the risk. However if I go long I am worry of Volatility crush + time decay.I don't want to use credit spreads or credit strategies. I want to minimize the exposure by using bare puts or calls. Do you have any toughs on how to harvest that 60% move?
Thanks,
EG
ES Futures
- Unlimited loss.
- If stops are used then you run the risk of being stopped out, locking in a loss - any reversal will be without you.
SPY Options
- Limited loss, unlimited gain.
- More bang for the buck than futures.
- Can't get stopped out early.
![]()
I like how you completely ignored talking about gap risk on SPY options given an environment where ES truly trades 24/5 with significant moves happening in all sessions now.
You're not even talking about ES vs SPY anyway you're talking about futures vs options.
The ideal is the market that offers the longest trading windows, accessibility, and direct hedgeability: and that's ES and ES options.
