Mastering Price Action Trading for Every Market (Video)

Video Highlights

  • Analyze market structure to identify clear trends through higher highs/lows in uptrends and lower highs/lows in downtrends.
  • Identify and mark key support and resistance zones where price consistently reacts and reverses.
  • Wait for reliable entry signals like breakouts, retests, and reversal patterns before committing to trades.
  • Practice emotional discipline by limiting risk to 1-2% per trade and avoiding impulsive trading decisions.
  • Study market psychology as price action reflects collective fear and greed of market participants.

The 3 Steps to Price Action Success

While many traders get caught up in complex indicators and endless chart patterns, mastering price action trading boils down to three fundamental steps that’ll transform your approach to the markets. Understanding price psychology and market timing isn’t about fancy tools – it’s about reading the raw story that price tells you on your charts. You’ll find that the market moves based on human emotions of fear and greed, which create predictable patterns you can learn to spot.

DIRECTION OF THE INSTRUMENT

The first step in mastering price action is identifying the market structure. You need to determine if you’re dealing with an uptrend, downtrend, or ranging market. In an uptrend, you’ll see a series of higher highs and higher lows, while a downtrend shows lower highs and lower lows. A ranging market bounces between clear support and resistance levels.

SUPPORT AND RESISTANCE ZONES – KEY LEVELS

Once you’ve got the market structure down, your next job is marking key levels where price has reacted before. These support and resistance zones are important – they’re areas where buyers or sellers have previously shown strong interest. Remember, these aren’t exact lines but zones where price tends to react. The more times a level’s been tested, the more significant it becomes especially when it breaks.

FIND YOUR TRADE ENTRY

Your final step is waiting for the right entry signal. Don’t jump in at the first sign of movement – wait for confirmation. Look for breakouts followed by retests of previous levels, or watch for reversal patterns like bullish pin bars or engulfing candles at support zones. These signals show you when the market’s ready to move.

The key to success with price action trading is patience and discipline. You shouldn’t risk more than 1-2% of your account on any trade, and you must wait for high-probability setups rather than forcing trades.

Your Questions Answered

How Long Should I Practice Paper Trading Before Using Real Money?

You’ll want to practice paper trading for at least 3-6 months before moving to real money.

During this time, focus on consistently following your strategy and maintaining proper risk management.

Track your wins and losses carefully – you’re ready to switch to real money when you’ve achieved profitable results for at least 2-3 months straight and feel confident in your decision-making process.

What Timeframes Work Best With This Strategy Besides the One-Hour Chart?

You’ll find that four hour charts work great for spotting major market moves while requiring less screen time.

Daily charts help you identify long-term trends and key levels, giving you a bigger picture view.

While the one-hour timeframe is ideal for entry signals, combining it with these larger timeframes strengthens your analysis and helps confirm your trading decisions.

Should I Use Market Orders or Limit Orders for Entering Trades?

For ideal order execution, you’ll want to use limit orders over market orders.

Limit orders give you better control over trade timing and your entry price, helping you avoid slippage.

While market orders execute immediately, they often fill at worse prices than expected.

Set your limit order slightly above the breakout level for buys or below support for sells to ensure you get your desired price.

How Do I Handle False Breakouts and Avoid Getting Trapped?

To avoid false breakout traps, wait for confirmation before entering trades.

Look for strong closing candles beyond the breakout level and increased volume to validate the move.

Don’t chase the first spike – instead, wait for a retest of the broken level.

You’ll spot fake breakouts by watching for quick reversals and weak momentum.

Set your stops wider during breakouts to avoid getting shaken out by market noise.

What’s the Optimal Number of Trades to Take per Week/Month?

There’s no magic number for trade frequency – focus on quality over quantity.

You’ll want to take only the best setups that align with your risk management rules. Most successful traders take 2-5 trades per week, but it depends on market conditions and your strategy.

Don’t force trades just to hit a target number. Remember, it’s better to wait for clear opportunities than to overtrade.

Conclusion

You’ve now learned a powerful yet simple approach to reading price action across any market. By mastering market structure, key levels, and entry signals on hourly charts, you’ll trade with greater confidence and consistency. Successful trading isn’t about complex indicators – it’s about understanding market psychology through pure price movement. Stay disciplined, manage your risk, and let price action guide your decisions.



Author: Shane Daly
Shane started on his trading career in 2005 and sought a more structured approach to his trading methodology. This lead becoming a Netpick's customer in 2008. His expertise lies in technical analysis, incorporating a macro overview for effective trade filtering. Shane's trading philosophy has been influenced by several prominent traders, contributing to his composed and methodical approach to market engagement. Initially focusing on day trading in the Forex market, Shane has since transitioned to a swing and position trading strategy across various markets, including stocks and futures. This shift has allowed him to optimize his time management without compromising his trading performance. By adopting longer-term trading horizons, Shane has successfully reduced his screen time while maintaining consistent returns.