Indicators are not the problem.
The way they are used is.
Most traders use indicators to generate signals directly:
- Buy when this crosses
- Sell when that turns
- Combine multiple indicators for confirmation
This often leads to:
- Conflicting signals
- Late entries
- Overcomplication
The issue is that many indicators are based on price alone. They measure what has already happened, not what is developing.
That doesn’t make them useless—but it limits what they can show.
The real question should not be:
“Does this indicator give good signals?”
It should be:
“What does this indicator actually measure?”
If an indicator reflects:
- Supply and demand
- Volume behaviour
- Market structure
Then it can be useful.
If it simply transforms price into another form, it will always lag behind the underlying cause.
This is why I focus on tools that reflect the core drivers of the market, rather than relying on surface-level signals.
Indicators should help you understand what is happening.
Not replace thinking altogether.