Quote from Samson77:
Thanks Dave;
I really appreciate the feedback on Linda it was very constructive.
The only thing that bothers me is your comments on scalps?
Could you expand on that a little more with your experiences in her room?
I am not a scalper at all, my holds are for 4-5 points min.
That being said I think I am going to try here forum for a month and see if there is anything that she does that might help me correct my inconsistency issue.
Thanks again
Samson,
I am glad to be of help. Now we can get to your issue, and pinpoint any incompatibility problems between styles.
Many times during the day, scalp trades are called in real-time. These trades have a high probability (80% positive expectancy). The trades are based on S&R levels, Short skirt trades (1-minute retest of a previous momentum high or low) , previous swing highs & lows and tape reading. ES Trades always have a 3-point stop.
The trades are scaled in one or two unit increments. A unit consist of x number of contracts. When she adds a second unit it is usually because the trade has gone a little against her but the underlying reason for the set-up has not changed and the risk/reward is still favorable. Additionally she usually states prior to entering the first unit that she intends to buy some at the current level and some more on any further push (up or down).
In addition to price stops, she also uses time stops. If a period of time goes by and the trade is not working, she has an uncanny ability to break-even or take a small loss. When she exits a trade its at one price.
With that said, although I have not calculated her actual trade by trade performance, it appears to me she is most often taking a 1.25 to 2 point "bite" out of the market. She trades size and this is what she is comfortable doing. Yes, I have seen her take 3, 4, 5 points ( even 30 points back in 1999, 2000 the good ol days) but this is much less frequent.
She is very aware of the overall volatility in the market and I believe adjusts her profit objectives accordingly.
Although she monitors all time frames and all markets, scalping the ES is her daily bread and 5 point moves, although they do occur, are not the trade of the day. What is the trade of the day is 50 cent, 75 cent, 1.25 point 2 point scalps. Buy the bid , sell the offer, get in fast, get out faster.
And when the fat pitch arrives she swings hard, real hard and trades very aggressively.
What you must reconcile is if trading on a very small 1-minute or 5-minute time frame right for you? and how her profit goals, risk/reward ratios, and time frame factors that she uses, compatible with yours.
It is not right for everybody!!
I guess you could say we as traders bide our time day in and day out taking "pieces" out of the market just as she does. Our edge is being fully involved in the market and realizing when that fat pitch arrives.
Best Regards,
Dave Scott