The difference between scalping and day trading?

Scalping: is a trading strategy that involves making numerous small trades over short timeframes to profit from small price movements. Scalpers aim to capitalize on rapid price fluctuations and typically hold positions for just a few seconds to minutes. While forex scalping can be highly profitable for experienced traders, it requires strong discipline, quick decision-making skills, and the ability to manage risk effectively.

Day Trading: Day trading is another short-term trading technique where traders end up opening and closing positions within the same trading day. The sole aim is to take advantage of intraday price fluctuations and avoid overnight market risks.
Successful day traders rely on technical analysis, chart patterns, and the latest news to make quick decisions and capitalize on daily opportunities.

Scalping doesn’t rely on technical analysis and chart patterns?

Scalping typically does rely on technical analysis and chart patterns, as traders aim to capitalize on short-term price movements. While scalpers may use various strategies and techniques, including quick execution and tight stop-loss orders, technical analysis is commonly employed to identify potential entry and exit points.

I found out how scalping and day trading are defined from a book named “trade like a casino”.

Day trading takes less than 24 hours. Scalping takes anywhere between seconds and a few hours.

Swing trading takes 2 to 10 days.

Long-term trading takes more than 10 days and trades in the direction of the longer-term trend.

Given the above definitions, I would be a scalper, a day trader, and a swing trader. My shortest trades will take an hour at least.

Oh well, that’s guaranteed to be accurate information, isn’t it?

Never mind the title, it’s a “book”, so it must be right? :rofl:

This is totally wrong. Trades that can take hours have nothing at all to do with scalping.

This is honestly just nonsense, - sorry! “Swing trading” has no connection to timeframes at all (see “The Master Swing Trader” by Alan Farley, page 1, or page 1 of any other proper, established textbook: they all start by explaining this common misunderstanding. There’s intraday swing trading, too. It’s just not about timeframes/speed!

Sorry, but honestly what you’ve read is all just plain wrong. :woozy_face:

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There is no objective definition for trading types. But, those look like sensible definitions to start with.

You say it’s wrong, but you haven’t proposed any better answer. Your answer above is just confusing.

Some traders treat trades that take a few hours as scalping trades.

That’s just another book. And, stop belittling others if you think they are wrong. That’s rude. If you think something is wrong, just provide the correct answer.

Respectfully, I think you missed Pipsteroid’s point, which is that all the established textbooks actually say exactly the same thing, on this greatly misunderstood subject.

He was right. They do.

You’re labouring under rather a common misapprehension, unfortunately perpetuated by a lot of online misinformation from “vendors”.

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Lol, actually I did exactly that: I said “Swing trading has no connection to timeframes at all.”

And I mentioned “page 1 of any other proper, established textbook: they all start by explaining this common misunderstanding”

And I explained that “There’s intraday swing trading, too.”

And I said “It’s just not about timeframes/speed!”

That IS the correct answer. I’m really sorry it’s apparently not the one you wanted.

Maybe it’s better if I just ignore your posts in future (exactly as some other members here have apparently already concluded, for themselves, too). Good luck with your trading.

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Explaning what swing trading is not is not the same as explaining what swing trading is.

I also scanned “The Master Swing Trader” by Alan Farley. It doesn’t seem to actually define swing trading. It explains some aspects of swing trading, but I didn’t find an actual definition when I scanned the book. I couldn’t find the definition in the initial pages. The book’s glossary section gives me a rather vague short definition that’s not really clear.

I’m not arguing that you are incorrect, but that’s not a definition of swing trading.

I don’t like the fact that you look down on me. That’s a bad attitude.

If you have the books, why don’t you just open the book and type the definition here? No one has bothered to type the definition from the books.

I could not find a clear definition in “The Master Swing Trader” by Alan Farley when I scanned the book. I couldn’t find the definition in the initial pages of the book.

If you are going to say you are right, at least type the definition here, or give me the exact pages of the exact books.

And, what are the established text books? Nobody on this thread has clearly defined what the established text books are.

Instead of harping on about how wrong I am, just type the definitions here, or give me the exact pages of the exact books where I can find the definitions.

And, if you are going to say established text books, explain where I can find them or how I can find them, or just give me the book titles. If you just say established text books, how am I supposed to know what they are?

As I mentioned above, “The Master Swing Trader” by Alan Farley didn’t seem to define swing trading. If you still think it defines swing trading, you are going to have to give me the exact pages where I can find the real definition or just type the definition from the book here.

I also don’t think it’s productive to obsess over which definition of trading types is correct.

I only bothered to ask because a lot of people use those words carelessly, but the exact difference doesn’t really matter for profit making.

On this forum, I found another definition of swing trading.

swing trading refers to the type of trading trying to catch the move between a swing low and a swing high, not to the time frame

At least, this definition defines what swing trading is and what it is not. If this is the definition, then I’m a swing trader.

I scanned “The Master Swing Trader” by Alan Farley, and it didn’t define swing trading as clearly as the above definition. In one definition, a swing trade is merely a trade meant to capture price swings. In other definitions, it means multi-day swing trades.

I don’t really care which definition is correct because this doesn’t help me make money.

You will, however, have found on page 1 exactly what Pipsteroid quoted and explained. As I did.

You could have fooled me.

No surprise there, though - anyone can fool me.

Starting to see exactly what you mean. :confounded:

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Look, if you found it, then just type it here. I haven’t. Just quote the book.

If you can’t quote it, then how do I know you are not lying to me?

Pipsteroid only explained swing trading is not related to timeframe. That’s not a definition of swing trading. That’s only a description of what swing trading is not. A real definition would explain what swing trading is and what it is not.

Can you quote the book or not?

I only found

In reality, swing trading characterizes a time frame-independent strategy that executes single, direct price movement. In this era of massive market liquidity, the swing trader may find excellent opportunities on both 5-minute and weekly charts.

That’s the closest I found to the definition in the book.

If that’s definition, then any trade that has a predetermined entry and a predetermined target is a swing trade.

A real definition would explain more clearly. For example, single direct price movement is not clearly defined. It’s confusing.

swing trading refers to the type of trading trying to catch the move between a swing low and a swing high, not to the time frame

This definition from another forum member actually looks like a definition. Catching a move between a swing low and a swing high. Now, it’s actually clear.

How would you know that, even if I did quote something?

LOL!! Just look at the “free preview” on Amazon and SEE IT FOR YOURSELF, Einstein.

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Okay, you can’t actually quote the book. You’re just trolling.

I actually quoted the book, and you didn’t.

I actually have access to the book.

This!! It‘s there for all to see!!

For God’s sake, @amano.kenji , what’s wrong with you?!

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