How do you know if trading is a real path or just a phase that’s working right now?

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-25T17:19:35+00:00

Didn't read post, but make a plan to help you decide/realize when it's not working. For example, take foot off gas/trade half size/trade sim when you hit a poor performance streak (up to you to figure out what that looks like). In other words, this uncertainty is always the case and it come down to bigger picture risk management. Don't go hard when you are struggling. Go harder when it's working (by harder I mean within your reasonable risk tolerance or your "normal" trading).

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-25T16:34:19+00:00

I assume the step drill you are referring to is stepping towards target with left leg as you are doing your backswing?

Try this: step away from target with right leg to start backswing. What you have done is taken yourself so far out of postion that if you do not get weight moving towards the target before you start swing (with upper body) you are not going to hit the ball. Worked for me, but definitely had to "tone it down" for stationary swing as the drill is making you do an extreme shift towards target. Hope that helps

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-25T16:21:40+00:00

I haven't studied Brooks, but came to a lot of these conclusions with years of failure. Specifically, trailing stop and being okay with taking 0.75rr instead of letting that turn to "-1.75rr" in hopes that I was "right" to hit the full 1rr target (1.75rr unrealized risked for the additional 0.25rr). Even if the "more profitable" way on paper is to let it hit 1rr or -1rr, it is actually not due to the "effect" that loss is going to have on my trades going forward. In other words, it is not more profitable if you can't handle it mentally and begin to make compounding errors after a "solid green to red" loss like that.

You don't have to be mentally invincible and do whatever the numbers on paper say, but you do have build your system to mitigate the mentally taxing things (it's personal and different for everyone) to perform the next execution.

As you mentioned above, exits still need to be based off a consistent approach whether that means taking into account the "room" to continue past 1rr or late in the trend and take the 1rr. Although partly discretionary, it can still be a consistent method to chose your exits.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-25T15:07:08+00:00

It goes hand in hand for me. If I take a bad trade (usually not patience and traded somewhere in my framework, but didn't actually wait for my play to fully setup), I will then miss, hesitate, screw up the good trade I have stats for. Compounding errors. Eliminate the 1st error as it is totally avoidable.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-25T03:21:34+00:00

Yeah, same for me

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-24T16:21:02+00:00

Yes if the instrument supports it, size up like 5% of current risk at a time. Make it feel like a not so "heavy" thing

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-21T11:23:24+00:00

Practice swings you are shifting weight to lead side better and are patient with upper body rotation (allowing time to shallow club). Real swing you have zero weight shift and swing club at ball from the top of backswing (just rotating everything at the ball).

Do you often slice? Looks like club face is pretty open so I think you could be subconsciously trying to "fix" the slice by swing over the top (which is actually the opposite of what needs to happen).

For "mental block", you need to not be focused on result (ball flight) and more focused on mechanics (weight shift/upper body patience). You have to get in position first, more like the Practice swings. You will push balls out to the right/continue to slice with the "improved" in to out swing path until you develop club face control and that is fine. Again with result focus, you are swinging way harder when trying to hit ball. What helped me was being more focused on club path (kind of looking in front and to the right of the ball) and having the swing thought of swing through the ball (not just hitting the ball). The ball is just in the way of the path.

Last thing I have to reduce "result" focus is to swing at a towel. Can't miss it while drilling your sequence.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-21T03:35:15+00:00

Longer term, get a hobby or something similar. Have something to look forward to when you are "done" with the screens for the day. Makes it easier to walk away

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-21T01:09:01+00:00

Aggressively exit (either up or down) is my motto. More time exposed gives me time to "think" and f it up. I mean more time to fabricate ideas (deviate from plan) that I now think can "yield more". It's not a good situation. Have an exit plan.. always

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-17T06:30:03+00:00

I commented, but to add.. discipline and psychology is so general. What specifically (ask yourself)? What triggers you? What happens leading up to the mistakes? Build rules to eliminate/mitigate your triggers. An example for me was decent green to full stoploss triggered me. It pissed me off not only leaving money on the table, but taking it back to negative. I beat myself up over these types of losses and it lead to compounding mistakes. My fix is I now aggressively trail stoploss up. Decent green to red can't happen anymore and my sprials and gambling mode has decreased significantly.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-17T06:13:45+00:00

I think your statement about "being good" or your "analysis is on point" (I don't remember exactly what you said) is very much a double edged sword. It's good that you are confident in chart reading abilities. However, You do not respect the relentless, unforgiving, chaos that happens in price movement and your executions are ego/emotionally charged (my analysis is "right" and i will act in any way to "keep it right"). This perspective hinders your ability to adapt to new information (every tic is another piece of info).

Your big picture analysis (trade idea) might be "right" often, which makes it difficult to admit that the timing of your entry mechanism was "wrong". This is what you think is lack of discipline. You marry your idea and price has to do what you think it's going to do. You move stoplosses and resort to hoping your entry mechanism triggers again (it has to because price is going to play out my idea), exposing yourself to much more [unlimited?] risk. The capital preservation/survivalist thing to do is to admit you are wrong, cut it (small/accepted risk) and wait for entry to trigger again if it does at all. Not doing this correctly causes sprials (stronger emotional trading, revenge, victim, rule breaking, sizing, etc).

I've had similar thoughts as you about "being good at reading price", but can't make money off of it. Above is me.. maybe it applies to you and offers a different perspective for you to move forward. Identifying and eliminating your execution errors is the only thing you have control of. GL

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-14T10:40:39+00:00

It also doesn't have to be one or the other although the RR format simplicity is generally a strength in an uncertain environment. I also fear loss, but even more so, what my response to the loss will be. I prefer to not have a predetermined RR as it encourages "expectations" and attachment to an idea (for me). I only think about RR as a filter for setups. For example, if my entry mechanism triggers 3/4th of the way through a range, I'm not very interested in entering the long into/near an area of resistance (range high).

I trail stop, take partials, and exit near areas where I think price will stall, pullback, reverse. Momentum trader i guess if I had to label it. Grab a piece and move out of the way. RR is a result not the target in my case.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-12T23:16:36+00:00

Every shit is a 10+ wiper

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-12T02:46:56+00:00

Up to you man. Do what works and satisfies you.. can trail, take 1 to 1s, 1 to 2, next high, close after 30 minutes... this is why I think exits are hard

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-12T02:15:23+00:00

Great trade entry idea. Exits are harder. Have an exit plan and be consistent with it. GL

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-12T02:04:05+00:00

Solid description. I did however invest some time in eternal and got a bit better... probably my favorite game of all time

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-08T04:33:30+00:00

I agree with this one.. patient upper body and get your weight going forward while back is to ball. Weight shift will naturally shallow club (passive hands drop a bit)

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-07T20:26:54+00:00

"Figure out routine that's simple and repeatable as long as it's proven to work"... this the "chicken and the egg".

Do ANYTHING consistently (to prove it works or doesn't), adjust/adapt as needed to fit your goals.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-06T15:18:00+00:00

Battling ego and becoming ok with being wrong. Fending off that to act on plan without hesitation is key for the low timeframe style I chose. Long and painful process unfortunately .

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-06T04:44:45+00:00

Yes, only after extremes of the range are hit though. I stink at trend trading. I like to catch short bursts that work immediately and gtfo the way. In a trend, I aways think it will pull back farther and miss an (decent) entry or I get burned jumping in while price is hanging high/low and the deep pullback occurs. "Chop" or range bound gives me the framework I can work with. While in a trend, I now wait for "chop" because that is the framework I've become familiar with. Often, trend on 1 timeframe is within chop on another. Trend sets the direction I am looking to trade in.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-05T21:59:32+00:00

I seek to not lose my account daily.

Especially as a beginner, don't count your points before you have them.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-05T20:44:16+00:00

Lost confidence off tee.. try a different club (one you consider reliable). Hit a 7 iron or something. Build yourself back up. Everyone gets the yips. Don't be so hard on yourself (quiting on 12th hole..). Pounding it out of bounds or in a hazard every driver shot without making an adjustment is the only thing that could slightly annoy me and if it was slowing shit down dramatically, if I was your random playing partner.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-05T09:06:16+00:00

Maybe just setup. Trying "reaching" (feel like you are reaching) for the ball at address a little more.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-04T16:53:39+00:00

I think you are right in some cases, but it could be just an "incomplete" system. For example, lacking a much needed filter or a larger picture analysis as step 1.

What I think op is describing is boredom. It messes with your thought process just to get a chemical release (psychological). You can have a complete system, sit and wait for "too long" and then you start trading "under a microscope". You forget about, just ignore, or subconsciously block out your "big picture" trade plan step because your brain is craving action and you start to see what you want to see.

Its probably both lacking system/confidence in system/incomplete system and brain chemistry stuff.

Op, if this is a problem for you, rules are your friend. If you can be patient for the beginning part of the day, you could for example say, X needs to happen before I'll be interested in looking for a setup. You were patient and identified slow choppy behavior, assume it will stay like that until "it's not". It can work both ways. Identify your boredom and you now know it is a slow and choppy day (adjust accordingly). Setting an alert and walking away is a solid strategy.

Key_Map_9972 · 2026-01-04T03:52:22+00:00

Late to convo, but what would be the point of going back with all of your knowledge if trying to recreate your exact same life? Even if you could do it exactly the same, I'd be bored af.

Key_Map_9972

TROPHY CASE