Trading Filters

Many traders get enamored by one or other trading approach and try to flog it to advantage in all market scenarios.
As an example look at Swing trading. Lets denote H as higher, and P as peak and T as trough and L as lower.

Typical conditions to go long are HT or HT and HP. (higher trough or higher trough and higher peak). Like wise reversal is done on a similar logic (LP or LP and LT). So far so good. But using in real life, traders will notice that these rules do give whipsaws  or trades that move in opposite directions because the trough and peak patterns arise that are part of different time frames.

For this reason, its a good idea to look at the context of each trade in the bigger picture. This may be done by looking at higher time frames, relative position of price in a trend or sideways movement. Good filters applied using such logic, enable you to avoid trades that are destined for failure.

Good luck.