When a Pattern Is Still Only a Sketch
Traders often label a pattern the moment two trend lines look neat. In the lab we treat neat lines as a hypothesis: has price actually tested the boundaries enough times, and has the break arrived with structure that matches the idea?
Start with construction. Doubles need comparable swings. Flags need a prior impulse. Triangles need a sequence of reacting highs and lows — not a single pinch drawn from wishful points.
Write one sentence after each candidate: what structure exists, what is still missing, and what would confirm or cancel the label. That habit matters more than memorising textbook silhouettes.
Bring three of those notes to Pattern Lab Intensive if you want feedback on whether your naming is consistent.