Skelly,
If you have a target then while you learn, come back from the target, say 5%-10% and put a limit order in the market? That way you'd have saved the pips on trade 1. Remember that greed is also an emotion we need to conquer! I think, (TD pls say otherwise if I'm wrong) that while you learn his excellent strategy then set your targets and stick to them. It helps you to become a disciplined trader and believe me it's very hard. I freely admit I still have a long way to go LOL!
On trade 1 I don't see any support/resistance or Fib confluence. Your resistance at 10709 is not marked on my charts as I just don't see the S&R there? Also the bar you entered on is not really a pin bar more of a doji which rather than an entry trigger, is more of a warning that a trend is about to change? (ie the small rally from your target)
In trade 1 my resistance was the zone along the yellow line shown in this chart below
I felt that it was a key zone worth taking a trade! I see your point now about the dojo...trigger happy...
Trade 2 - again not really a pin bar, or at a significant swing high/low. You say you were unsure of targets? Go out a TF to say daily etc and plot the fibs. You'll be amazed at what you see. The price often bounces off the fib levels! Use them as a tgt if nothing else?
Il try this, would you take a fib from an overall swing on the dailys and use the percentages along this as the targets ya? ie use the various % levels as the targets?
Trade 3 - Watch out for news announcements. I'd have the stops really tight or exit prior to NFPs if I was unsure of the direction. I have been there. Trying to trade too many strategies at once. If you are planning on using the Pins Strategy then only stick to that until you can nail it. Take advice from TD, re-read his thread and look to the guys that are doing well here such as Omni and Superspurs (plus many others). Soak up their wisdom. The pros know the amatuers flock to news trading and see it as a licence to print money! My advice is to stay clear of news trading as the opposite to what you expected can often evolve over a couple of minutes.
I wasn't trying to trade the news even though i was aware it might effect my trade. I think i TD said a while back that he finds the pin trades are often helped by the news. I was trying to ignore it and just trade the chart. I guess finding a sensible target and checking the RR for this trade would have been smart.
It's a long journey. To get a head start y
ou must master your emotions and discipline. If you can't honestly and faithfully do that then you really should save your money and buy an Exchange Traded Fund on a regular basis and let the miracles of pound cost avareging and compound interest work to your advantage!
Grim