Know Sure Thing Review

Trend indicators like Know Sure Thing are the backbone of systematic trading. By smoothing price action over a lookback period, they reveal the dominant direction and help traders stay in moves longer rather than exiting prematurely.

Key Features

• Reveals trend direction by smoothing raw price fluctuations
• Self-correcting — outdated signals fade as new bars form
• Works standalone or as a foundation layer in multi-indicator systems

Best Settings for Know Sure Thing

How to Use Know Sure Thing

1. Plot on your chart and watch for the direction of the line or colour
2. Enter when the indicator turns bullish (line slopes up / colour changes)
3. Exit when it reverses to bearish — stay in during the trend, don’t anticipate
4. Confirm trend strength with volume — rising volume + rising indicator = healthy trend

Pros & Cons

Pros

- Reduces noise compared to raw price action
- Clear visual signals — no complex interpretation needed
- Works as both a standalone tool and with other indicators

Cons

- Inherent lag means you miss the first part of every move
- Sideways markets generate repeated false signals — best used with a range filter
- Short periods create noise, long periods create delays — finding the sweet spot matters

Who Is This For?

• Trend followers who want automated trend detection
• Swing traders who enter on pullbacks in established trends
• Position traders who hold for weeks and need trend confirmation

Alternatives

• Simple Moving Average — the classic, widely understood
• Keltner Channels — trend direction + volatility envelope in one
• Ichimoku Cloud — comprehensive: support, resistance, trend, momentum combined
• MACD — trend following with a momentum twist through the signal line crossover

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reduce whipsaws?

Two approaches: (1) increase the period for smoother output, or (2) add a minimum ADX threshold. Only trade when ADX is above 25 to avoid ranging markets.

Should I use it alone or with other indicators?

Alone is fine for simple trend following. For better results, combine with volume (confirms conviction) and a volatility filter like ATR for stop placement.

How does this handle gaps?

Gaps are treated as price data — the indicator recalculates on the next bar. If you trade instruments prone to gaps (crypto, earnings plays), use wider periods to smooth the impact.

Final Verdict

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Reliable and well-built. Has limitations, but the strengths far outweigh them.

Get Started with Better Trading Tools

📊 Power your analysis on TradingView — the platform that powers The Indicator Lab. Get real-time data, 100M+ indicators, and Pine Script.

Try TradingView Free → Affiliate link · We earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Data source: TradingView. This review is based on publicly available indicator information. Always test indicators in a demo environment before live trading.