A move without proportional effort is a move you should question. Flow Effort detects when volume and price range are out of sync — revealing trapped traders, exhaustion, and real momentum shifts before they're visible on the candle.
What you're reading
The Effort vs Result principle is simple: effort is volume, result is range. When they match, the move is healthy. When they diverge, something is being hidden.
Absorption bar — high volume, narrow range. Massive effort, tiny result. Both sides fought hard and canceled each other out. This often happens at key levels just before a reversal. One side is about to lose.
Expansion bar — low volume, large range. Small effort, large result. This can happen in two ways: (1) genuine momentum through a thin zone (vacuum), or (2) a lack of opposing orders — which won't sustain without follow-through.
Effort matching result — normal bar. Volume and range move proportionally. No signal. This is the base state.
Sequential absorption bars — multiple consecutive absorption bars at the same level = serious fighting zone. One side will break — watch which direction price resolves.
Confluence — what to stack
Effort signal
Add this indicator
Result
Absorption at supply zone
Flow Imbalance — active zone? + Flow Big Orders — magenta bubble?
Triple-layer reversal: zone + absorption + print
Absorption at demand zone
Flow Footprint — near-zero delta at zone?
Zone defense confirmed — long setup
Expansion bar at ORB break
Flow ORB + Flow Big Orders
Vacuum above ORH + participation = real breakout
Expansion bar with no Big Orders bubble
Flow Big Orders — bubble missing?
Thin tape move — no commitment. Reduce size, watch for failure
Absorption bars + CVD flat
Flow CVD
Double exhaustion signal — move losing steam
Trade scenarios
Absorption at a key level — reading the reversal before it happens
SetupPrice is rallying into a known supply zone (prior VAH, active imbalance zone, or just above ORH that failed).
TriggerAn absorption bar appears at the zone — very high volume, candle closes near its open (spinning top or doji shape). Effort indicator flags the bar.
ConfirmFootprint shows near-zero or negative delta on the absorption bar. Delta Grid shows low Δ%. Big Orders shows magenta bubble at the level. CVD starts declining.
InvalidateNext bar breaks strongly above the absorption bar's high with high positive delta. The absorption resolved bullishly — the supply was cleared.
Expansion into thin zone — momentum entry on the break
SetupVolume Profile shows a low volume node (thin area) above a key resistance that just broke. This is where price often moves fast.
TriggerPrice enters the thin zone. An expansion bar forms — range is large relative to volume. The LVN is being traversed quickly.
ConfirmA teal Big Orders bubble appears in or just below the expansion bar. CVD rising. Delta Grid shows positive Δ% even on the expansion bar.
InvalidateThe expansion bar reverses immediately on the next bar. Rapid reversal of an expansion bar = false move. The thin zone was a trap, not a vacuum.
Key settings
Absorption threshold: Calibrate to your instrument's typical candle volume. Too low = flags every bar. Too high = misses real absorptions. Start with the default and watch 2-3 sessions before tuning.
Expansion threshold: Same principle. Large range relative to volume, not absolute range. Context matters — what's "large" in an active RTH session vs overnight is very different.
Pairing tip: Always use Effort alongside CVD and Delta Grid. Effort gives you the bar's structural quality. CVD gives you the trend context. Delta Grid gives you the directional conviction. All three together is complete bar analysis.
Quick FAQ
Can Effort be used standalone? Yes but it's most powerful as a confirmation tool. Effort alone without structure context (zones, ORB levels, VP) produces too many false reads.
Is high volume always an absorption signal? No. High volume on a bar with large range is normal momentum. Absorption is specifically high volume + narrow range.
Does it need tick data? No. Effort uses bar-level volume data — works without a tick subscription.
