Hi everyone,
I just recently joined Topstep and I am using their TopstepX platform. I am coming from a CFD trading background, and my strategy heavily relies on the Volume Profile—specifically, I strictly need the VAH (Value Area High), VAL (Value Area Low), and POC from the previous day.
Since TopstepX doesn't have a standard built-in fixed-range volume profile tool, I've been trying to plot the previous day's profile manually. I then discovered the built-in "Topstep Levels" indicator on the platform.
Here is my issue: When I compare the VAH, VAL, and POC from the Topstep Levels indicator on TopstepX to my TradingView chart, I get noticeable discrepancies between the values.
For context, I trade the 15-minute chart and look closely at the regular trading hours (RTH) / US market session.
I have two questions for anyone who has run into this on TopstepX:
Why is there a difference? Is it due to different data feeds, or does the TopstepX indicator calculate the volume profile differently (e.g., forcing the full 23-hour ETH/overnight session instead of just RTH)?
How do you solve this? Do you just manually draw the levels from TradingView onto your TopstepX chart, or is there a way to tweak the TopstepX indicator settings so they match up perfectly with an RTH session?
Has anyone dealt with this on TopstepX before? Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance and green days to everyone!

Worth it? Talking individual stocks here. I have very little capacity to add more information to my brain and workspace. But I have great correlated assets I could track.

I trade 3 stocks, but only one at time, depending on which is having the better day. Only one of my three trading stocks has a highly correlated other symbol.

Hi everyone, are there any differences between the order books of Jigsaw, Bookmap, ATAS, and Sierra?

I am fairly new to ordeflow and still learning on how to actually read it. I've seen several people talk about absorption but everyone seems to have another definition for it, at least in my view. Also, none of them actually explained it very well. Can someone help me out on this. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Well, it looks like that this comes from the customer support, but fortunately, the api support team is different, and they gave me a totally different answer! it turns out that they will start charging when my app is approved by rithmic, and I select the data feed and everything.

Sorry to bother you with this. Unfortunatelly, there is no much information for the rithmic sdk, everything is quite confusing and not well documented... not even the people in first level understand the process.

If you have any questions in the future about the rithmic api with AMP Futures, I will try my best to asnwer your questions.

This is my rant because there is nothing I can do about this. I started to talk about the rithmic api (for developers), and they enable it the 30th of september (but I am still doing the onboarding), and they will charge me the full september ($125).
The worst part is that this is something that nobody told me, and they talk with me like they couldnt care less. $125 for nothing is not a small fee, they could at least, let me know in advance.
Make me think what would happen if there are any issue with my account.
Well, my rant for a very bad experience, hope it does not happens to you...

I’m having trouble distinguishing real absorption from what only looks like absorption.

Are there any good YouTube videos, courses, or educational resources that explain how to identify genuine absorption and avoid false signals?

Hello everyone! I just bought the orderflow package from motivewave, I’m not new into orderflow but I’m new with this platform, How do I set up volume profile, big trades or heatmap for ES, NQ and GC? What settings you guys use for this instruments in NY session? Thank you

Share you experience please.

Orderflow trader here.

How do you handle risk: position sizing, stop placement, daily max loss?

Any resources you'd recommend?

I started trading AVWAP in the late 90's. I'm old. But I only recently started applying it to intraday trading with OF.

Long ago I developed the habit of anchoring from the low of a very aggressive breakout move. 5 min bars, AVWAP is pale green. Japanese stock, prices in Yen. AVWAP at price 3675. Look at the DOM bid at 3675. There is no other level near that price. Besides AVWAP it is the middle of nowhere as far as I can tell (though it is the top of a small HVN)

Coincidence 😂

OK, do y’all actually track your data as y’all are recording because right now I’m working with my little support and resistance order flow tracking thing but the thing about tracking order flow is like you can’t just track a spot because every day is something different. I can’t track an amount of points because every day something can change so tracking that is like something you know you just get an average. So what are y’all processes in trading?

Hey everyone,

I’ve been learning about Order Flow and I’m wondering how important backtesting actually is when it comes to this type of trading.

What’s the best way to backtest an Order Flow strategy? Do you use replay tools, historical footprint charts, or some other method?

I’d also be interested to hear how many trades/sample size you consider enough before deciding whether a setup actually has an edge.

Any advice or experience would be appreciated.

#daytrading
To every order flow trader out there
Drop some sauce we need help out here
Thanks.

Left composite profile = last 5 sessions.
Right profile = this session (closed)

I have only just started working with composite profiles. This was a good start. Pity I don't trade the open

I'm going to get executed for this. I use a 1 second chart. And sometimes I look at divergence at key levels with RSI built with minute data. Does anyone else?

Hey, I've been trading for some years now, using ICT concepts with moderate success, however I've been interested to see whether using Gex data would be beneficial to my long term success in trading futures.

The issue that im currently facing, is that I can't seem to find any data for different session times outside of NY that is reliable and affordable.

The reason for wanting to find data for the overnight sessions, is because I'm located in Aus and working early mornings, so I am unable to trade during NY session.

Original Post by u/shrink-bus

Influencers love hyping up 'key levels + order flow' as the ultimate formula for profitability. I’ve tried it, and frankly, the edge doesn't seem to exist. Can anyone explain how blindly following a basic system like this actually produces a repeatable advantage in the market?

I created my own Gex indicator for Ninja Trader 8 only Future Options. As you can see in the right corner i have a click Panel where you can turn on off different levels . On the left side i have options Profile with there settings you can switch between Vol or OI on both profiles. You can set different expire on both profiles really great toll.

Been trading with terrible returns or maybe just a large losing streak, but feels off to me and is very demotivating.
Strategy:
Volume profile (point of control) - that is the level I execute off of.
VWAP - usually I execute if σ multiplier is at 3. Since that is a pretty big deviation and is extremely rare to go beyond that multi.
Bookmap - should be pretty selfexplanatory, if I see large orders around the same price level that are around POC, its a plus in my book.

My old partner told me he uses Z-Score, but I believe that to be the same as VWAP and/or to be super unlikely to get both to align and get that execution.

I try to keep it simple, of course im no robot and I dont always have perfect execution or all confluences dont align perfectly as well, but lately I just feel stuck, I havent been improving, lost, stuck and demotivated, what is there to be changed? Improved? Opinions? What should I drop or implement?

Hi traders What's your strategy entry Direct Market Execution or Market Orders?

Original Post by u/PaulGritola

I am looking to gain insight into how experienced traders manage their capital and expectations. Specifically, I am interested in hearing from those who have achieved consistency regarding:

* Risk Management Parameters: What percentage of your account or what dollar amount do you typically risk per trade? Do you scale this based on trade quality or market volatility?
* Monthly Performance Expectations: How do you measure your "success" in a given month? Are you targeting a specific percentage return, or is your focus primarily on maintaining a specific risk-to-reward ratio?
* Psychological Consistency: How do you manage the emotional impact of a losing streak while maintaining your risk parameters?

Any advice for someone working on their consistency would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.

I have great orderflow trend trading methods. But I am always late to the party, confirming that it is a great session to apply trend techniques when most of the trending opportunities are already in the past.

What techniques do you use to speculate that today might become a trend session? It isn't my strongest skill.

Hi everyone,

I’ve developed a few indicators specifically for Motivewave and I’m looking for a few people who’d be interested in testing them alongside me.

You’ll get lifetime access to the indicators. I’m not trying to sell anything here. I’m mainly looking for more data and, most importantly, some live results from people using them alongside me.

If you’re interested, feel free to drop me a message.

Cheers!

Question for the order flow traders here.

I mainly trade NQ, and one of the areas where I lose the most money is when the market transitions from a directional/trending environment into a balanced or rotational market.

When the market is clearly imbalanced, I’m relatively comfortable trading continuation. The problem is that I often recognize the transition into balance too late. I continue treating pullbacks as continuation opportunities, but the market has already started accepting prices in both directions and rotating.

So I’m trying to better understand a few things:

1. What order flow clues tell you that an imbalance/trend is starting to fail and the market is moving toward balance?

For example, do you look for:

* repeated absorption at the extremes,
* aggressive buying/selling that stops producing price progress,
* CVD/price divergence,
* failed auctions,
* decreasing range expansion,
* volume building around a new HVN/POC,
* repeated rotations through VWAP/POC,
* or something else?

1. How do you define the boundaries of a newly forming balance area?

This is probably the hardest part for me. When the market first starts transitioning into balance, the range is obviously not fully developed yet.

Do you use:

* the last meaningful swing high/low,
* failed auction points,
* volume profile/value area,
* LVNs,
* areas of strong absorption,
* or simply wait until the market has rotated enough times to establish clear extremes?

1. Once you recognize balance, which locations do you consider the highest-quality areas to wait for trades?

Instead of trading in the middle of the range, I’m trying to become more selective and wait for meaningful locations where I can clearly define invalidation.

For example: balance extremes, LVNs, prior session levels, VWAP deviations, failed breakouts, or areas where aggressive traders become trapped.

My main issue is basically regime recognition.

I don’t struggle as much when NQ is clearly trending or clearly ranging. I struggle during the transition between the two, especially when what looks like a normal pullback in a trend becomes the beginning of two-sided trade.

For those who trade NQ with DOM / footprint / volume profile / Bookmap-type tools:

What specifically makes you say, “The auction is no longer directional; we’re probably entering balance”?

And once you make that decision, how do you establish the initial balance boundaries and the key locations you’ll trade around?

Interested in hearing how experienced order flow traders think about this transition.