Well, to be honest, I was not aware that buying swing lows and selling swing highs were considered mainstream trading techniques.
Truth be told, it's been a long time since I seriously read any kind of how-to trading book as I also came to the same conclusion as nysestocks earlier in this thread regarding textbook information and so called educators. The better part of the last few years have actually been spent developing a trading model which is not chart based, but which is based on statistical data I developed myself as it seemed like a worthwhile pursuit.
So, mainstream trading. What is it? My impression would be that this would be classical charting analysis with chart formations, i.e., double tops/triangles/head & shoulders/support/resistance and most importantly CHARTS. Some may employ indicators.
But at the end of the day - mainstream trading would involve a CHART and interpretation of that in some kind of manner.
To move away from mainstream trading and analysis - there have in fact been a few interesting members over the years who have specifically said that they do NOT use charts in their trading model or analysis at all. And suggests to newbies that their main focus should not be charts as that's what everyone else uses (and loses with).
Yet, that does not seem to be the case with the philosophies put forth in this particular thread.
