“You don’t need volume to trade price action.”
I heard that a hundred times in my early days — and I believed it. Until the charts taught me otherwise.
The Early Days: My Obsession with Price Action
When I first started trading, I was fixated on price action. Candlestick patterns, support-resistance flips, trendiness, supply-demand — I tried to master it all. I’d draw every zone, analyze every wick, and backtest hundreds of setups purely based on what price was doing.
There was a kind of simplicity and elegance to it. Price tells you everything, right?
But here’s what I didn’t realize then — price action without context is just movement. You can spot a perfect pin bar, a textbook breakout, or an engulfing candle… and still get trapped. And that happened a lot more than I’d like to admit.
I would often wonder: \”Why did this pattern fail? Why did that breakout reverse so violently?\”
And eventually, the charts whispered the answer: Look at the volume.
The Turning Point: When Volume Started Making Sense
I used to treat volume as an afterthought. Just a histogram at the bottom of the chart. I didn’t know how to read it — let alone use it.
But when I finally gave it the respect it deserves, something shifted.
I started noticing things like:
- Volume spikes at highs/lows that preceded strong reversals.
- Breakouts that failed because volume dried up.
- Trap candles that made more sense when the volume was aggressive but short-lived.
- Pullbacks that looked scary on price, but were quiet on volume, and thus low-risk entries.
It felt like I was watching the same movie again — but this time with the director’s commentary turned on.
Marrying the Two: Price Builds the Structure, Volume Reveals the Intent
Here’s how I see it now:
- Price shows the structure — the highs, lows, patterns, traps, breakouts.
- Volume tells you what’s real — where the market is genuinely interested, and where it’s just shadowboxing.
I don’t treat them as separate systems anymore. I treat them like two lenses focusing on the same truth.
For example:
- A false breakout above PDH is just a pattern… until I see a sudden volume spike followed by weakness. Then I know smart money is unloading.
- A hammer at support looks good… but if it closes green with no pickup in volume, I pass.
- A gap up opening into resistance? I wait for the first volume surge and the reaction — not just the price move.
This integration didn’t happen overnight. It was built brick by brick — through pain, false starts, and rewiring how I think about market behavior.
Why the “PA vs Volume” Debate Is Pointless
I see a lot of traders online debating:
“Volume is a lie, just watch price.”
“Price action is misleading, only volume shows intent.”
Honestly? That’s like arguing whether you should use maps or directions. Both are meant to guide you to the same place.
Yes, some traders are profitable using just price. Others build entire systems on volume analytics.
But for me, the edge came when I stopped choosing sides.
I traded more and realized something important:
➡️ Every price action pattern is built on some volume behavior.
➡️ Every volume anomaly is trying to say something about price.
I stopped trying to pick a side. I started focusing on how they interact. I found more clarity. I also found more consistency.
How I Use Them Together Now (Without Overcomplicating)
Let me be honest — I don’t have ten indicators or complex volume tools. I use volume in a practical, grounded way.
Here’s what I look for:
- Volume confirmation on breakout: Is the move backed by activity, or is it running dry?
- Volume spike followed by absorption: Often a trap.
- Sudden volume at previous day levels (PDH/PDL): That’s where I zoom in. Is it a breakout or a fakeout?
- Low volume pullbacks after high-volume impulsive moves: Best place to enter with low risk.
- Relative volume: I compare bars to recent context — not just raw numbers.
I don’t need to read a tape or track every print. I just want to know:
\”Is someone hitting the gas, or just revving the engine?\”
Final Thoughts: Trading Is Not About Tools — It’s About Clarity
Looking back, I don’t regret starting with price action. It gave me structure.
But learning volume gave me depth. It turned my setups from patterns into probabilities.
So if you’re a trader trying to choose between the two — stop.
Learn both. Integrate them.
Because in the end, price and volume are not fighting each other — they’re trying to tell the same story.
All you have to do is listen.
👉 If you’re curious how this realization shaped my trading journey — including how I quit my job and went full-time — check out this post:
My Journey From Quitting My Job to Becoming a Full-Time Day Trader