Too many indicators: a simple way to remove some
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2026 2:49 pm
Charts tend to gather indicators over time. Removing some can improve decisions.
A simple process:
A useful question for each indicator: if it disagreed with price action, which would you follow? If the answer is always price action, the indicator isn't adding much.
Clean charts are also faster to read under pressure, especially at the open.
A second step is to remove one more indicator a month later and see whether anything is missed. Often nothing is, and the charts end up with two or three tools that each have a clear job. Write down why each remaining indicator stays, so the list doesn't slowly grow back.
How many indicators are on your main chart?
A simple process:
- List every indicator on the chart.
- For each, write which decision it influences: entry, exit, filter, or none.
- For those with "none", remove them.
- For the others, check whether two indicators answer the same question, for example two momentum oscillators.
A useful question for each indicator: if it disagreed with price action, which would you follow? If the answer is always price action, the indicator isn't adding much.
Clean charts are also faster to read under pressure, especially at the open.
A second step is to remove one more indicator a month later and see whether anything is missed. Often nothing is, and the charts end up with two or three tools that each have a clear job. Write down why each remaining indicator stays, so the list doesn't slowly grow back.
How many indicators are on your main chart?