Base hit trading mindset
Base Hits First, Home Runs Optional: How to Align with Reality and Still Catch Big Moves
By and large, most trades don’t end the way you imagine. Probably 80% stop you out, fizzle, or fall short of that “clean trend.” Think about how often you’re green right away—then stopped out the next day or forced to sell into weakness.
Instead of fighting that reality, trade with it.
If your deep dives show you usually get instant gains, there’s an edge sitting right there. Press size on the entry, and then de-risk immediately into that first strong intraday rip—sometimes within 10 minutes. Look to de-risk more at 1-3R, rather than shoot for the starts.
What happens? Your equity curve keeps inching higher. Your win rate improves. And that steady flow of green trades keeps your mindset sharp and focused each day. That’s the true edge—small wins compounding into consistency.
But here’s the thing: trading this way means you’re operating in a scarcity mindset. You’re flipping your account through base hits. That’s good. But sometimes, a stock keeps running for weeks or even months without you.
To give yourself a shot at those home runs, use a tactic called peel and trail. Sell partials right away to lock in the base hit, then trail the rest with smaller size. That way you’re still compounding the small wins—while leaving the door open for the big ones.
