Single Print Trading

Understanding market momentum and identifying key price levels can be a gamechanger for active futures traders. TradeWise Creations Founder Max Larouche introduced traders to the concept of single print trading—an order flow-based strategy that aims to identify high-conviction trade entries using the footprint chart.

 

The mechanics of market movement

 

At its core, every market move reflects a disagreement between buyers and sellers over value. According to Max, real market activity happens when traders hit the buy or sell button with conviction, not when they passively place bids or asks. This ongoing battle is best visualized using a footprint chart, which reveals executed volume at each price level and shows who took the initiative—buyers or sellers.
 
Unlike traditional candlestick charts, which display only the end result of price movement, footprint charts expose the underlying struggle. Each price level displays bid volume (aggressive selling) and ask volume (aggressive buying), giving traders a real-time view of where and how traders are entering the market.

 

What is a single print?

 

A single print occurs when the market moves so decisively through a price level that there’s no time to build any structure—meaning the price is traded only once and not revisited during the session. On a footprint chart, this appears as a price level with zero contracts traded on one side of the bid/ask spread.
 
These zones often indicate exhaustion or rejection. For instance, if aggressive buying fails to find a willing seller, it suggests that traders aren’t interested in that price, prompting a quick reversal. Conversely, if sellers drive price lower with no buyer support, it marks a potential turning point to the downside.

 

Why single prints matter

 

Single print zones can act as magnets or barriers later in the session. Price may revisit them for “repair,” or they may hold as strong support or resistance levels. According to Max, these moments are rare but significant, because they reveal clear market imbalances where traders decisively rejected a price level.
 
Recognizing this rejection in real time can lead to high-probability entries. However, manually spotting single prints can be challenging, which is where TradeWise Creations’ single print algo comes into play.

 

A semi-automated trading tool

 

To streamline the process, TradeWise Creations developed a single print algorithm designed to detect these setups and instantly place a market order when conditions align. The tool doesn’t manage trades—it simply helps traders enter at a moment of clear imbalance. From there, trade management is up to the user.
 
Max emphasized that while the tool increases speed and precision, it’s not a replacement for trader discretion. He recommends pairing it with tight stop-losses (e.g., 3-4 ticks on the E-mini S&P 500) and giving trades room to develop when they show immediate promise.

 

Practical application and community support

 

The single print algo is most effective when used on five-minute volumetric footprint charts—available within NinjaTrader’s Order Flow + suite. TradeWise Creations encourages traders to explore single print setups even without the algorithm, highlighting that understanding the footprint is valuable for anyone looking to deepen their order flow analysis.
 
Max also noted that all TradeWise tools, including the single print algo, are available for free trials via a simple sign-up, no credit card required. With active support through Discord and detailed educational content, TradeWise Creations aims to build a community where traders can grow through shared insights and proven tools.

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