Impulse Legs: How Strong Moves Reveal the Market’s Real Intent
Impulse legs are the clean, powerful moves that reveal what side of the market actually has control. Forget the noise—this is the real trend talking. If you know how to read impulse legs, you’ll understand trend strength better than most traders ever will.
What Is an Impulse Leg?
An impulse leg is a strong, directional burst in price with conviction behind it. It cuts through levels, wipes out hesitation, and shows which side is truly dominating.
This connects directly to Market Structure because impulse legs define the swings that build structure.
What Makes an Impulse Leg “Strong”?
| Feature | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Large Candles | Clear directional aggression |
| Increasing Volume | Real participation behind the move |
| Clean Breaks of Levels | Market stopping out the opposite side |
| Shallow Pullbacks | Traders unwilling to give up ground |
Impulse legs are often the opposite of False Momentum. They’re real, sustained, and backed by orderflow.
Why Impulse Legs Matter
Impulse legs tell you:
- who’s in control
- where the trend is headed
- where future pullbacks are likely to form
- whether a breakout is real or fake
Impulse Legs vs Retracements
Every trend is built from two parts:
- Impulse legs — the real move
- Retracements — the market breathing in between moves
If the retracements get deeper and the impulse legs get weaker, the trend is failing. This ties into Failed Breakouts because weak impulses often lead to fake continuation attempts.
How to Use Impulse Legs in Trading
1. Identify Trend Strength
Strong impulse legs = strong trend. Weak impulse legs = trend dying.
2. Use Impulse Legs to Set Targets
The length of the impulse leg often predicts how far the next one can run.
3. Watch How Price Reacts After an Impulse
If price cannot retrace cleanly, it means the move isn’t finished.
4. Don’t Fade Strong Impulsive Moves
You’re stepping in front of a train.
The Bottom Line
Impulse legs are the market’s loudest signal. When you understand them, you stop guessing who’s in control and start trading with the side that’s actually winning.