Every trade has a setup: the pattern or context that triggered your entry. In Eyes On You, we separate strategy (your framework) from setup (the entry style), and only show setups that fit the strategy you pick, so your stats stay clean and comparable. Below you will find the same pairing guide as in your journal. For how to use segmentation in analysis, see segmenting by day, session and setup.
What Is a Setup?
A setup is the concrete reason you entered: the price structure, level or event (e.g. breakout, pullback to EMA, liquidity sweep, news spike). A strategy is your broader approach-trend following, mean reversion, breakout style, SMC/ICT, etc.-and can include several setup types. Tagging trades in your journal with both (when you choose to) keeps frameworks and triggers distinct so reports stay meaningful.
Strategy vs setup in EOU
In the expanded trade row, the Trade classification block has two fields:
- Strategy — Which trading framework this trade belongs to, such as Trend Following, SMC/ICT, or Mean Reversion.
- Setup — The specific entry pattern for this trade, such as Pullback, Order Block, or Liquidity Sweep. The setup list only shows choices that match your strategy, so you do not mix incompatible labels by mistake.
Both fields are optional. If you have older journal entries from before this system, wording may differ until you edit and save the trade again.
Which setups go with each strategy?
When you classify a trade in the journal, each strategy unlocks only the setups in that row. This table matches what you see in the app.
| Strategy | Setups you can choose |
|---|---|
| SMC / ICT |
|
| Trend Following |
|
| Mean Reversion |
|
| Range Trading |
|
| Breakout Trading |
|
| News Trading |
|
| Indicator-Based |
|
| Hybrid |
|
All setup types in Eyes On You
These are the setup names that can appear (depending on the strategy you pick):
- Breakout
- Pullback
- Range Bounce
- Reversal
- Trend Continuation
- Liquidity Sweep
- Order Block
- FVG / Imbalance
- Support / Resistance
- Moving Average Bounce
- Bollinger Band Touch
- VPVR Level
- News Spike
- Retest After Breakout
- Volume Confirmation
- Mixed
- Other
Common setup types (guide)
Short educational reference. Use the table above for what you can select in the journal; these notes explain what each idea means in plain language.
Trend and momentum
- Breakout - Price breaks out of a range, consolidation or key level in the direction of the move.
- Pullback - Entry on a retracement within a trend (e.g. to an EMA, Fibonacci level or structure).
- Trend Continuation - Adding or re-entering in the direction of the established trend after a pause.
Range and reversal
- Range Bounce - Trading the boundaries of a sideways market; fading the edges of the range.
- Reversal - Entering when structure suggests a trend change (e.g. break of structure plus confirmation).
Order flow and institutional concepts
- Liquidity Sweep - Price sweeps highs or lows (stops) then reverses; often used in SMC and ICT-style trading.
- Order Block - Last opposing candle before a strong move; used as an entry zone in smart money concepts.
- FVG / Imbalance - Fair value gap or imbalance: a three-candle pattern where price leaves an unfilled gap, often used for entries.
Levels and indicators
- Support / Resistance - Entry off a clear support or resistance level (bounce or break).
- Moving Average Bounce - Entry based on price interaction with one or more moving averages.
- Bollinger Band Touch - Entries at bands (mean reversion or breakout) or using squeezes.
- VPVR Level - Volume profile: entries at high-volume nodes, low-volume nodes or POC.
Context and combination
- News Spike - Trade driven by a scheduled or surprise news event (e.g. NFP, CPI, earnings).
- Mixed - More than one setup type applied; combination of pattern, level and timing.
- Other - Any setup that does not fit the labels above; keep naming consistent for review.
Why Track Setup Type?
Without setup tags, you only see overall PnL and win rate. With them, you get Setup Performance and related insights: which setups have the best average R, execution and excellent rate. Adding strategy when you are ready gives a cleaner split between how you think (framework) and what you clicked (pattern). Combine setup segmentation with day and session and with execution and discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a trading setup?
- A setup is the specific price-structure reason you took a trade: the pattern, level or context (for example breakout, pullback, order block, or gap). In Eyes On You you can record an optional setup together with an optional strategy (your broader style). Naming them consistently helps you see which kinds of trades work best for you.
- What is the difference between a strategy and a setup?
- A strategy is your overall approach or framework (for example trend following, SMC/ICT, or mean reversion). A setup is the concrete trigger for one trade (for example a pullback to structure, a liquidity sweep, or a retest after a breakout). One strategy can include several setup types. In the journal, the setup list depends on the strategy you pick, so choices stay consistent in your stats.
- Do I have to fill in strategy and setup?
- No. Both are optional. When you do use them, Eyes On You only offers setups that make sense for the strategy you chose. If you have older trades from before this system, you may see different wording until you update the trade.
- Why should I tag each trade with strategy and setup?
- Tagging lets you segment performance by setup and, over time, by strategy. You can see which setups have the best average R, execution and win rate. Strategy Insights and related views use these fields when you set them. Combine this with segmenting by day and session for a fuller picture.
- What are order blocks and FVG in trading?
- An order block (often used in SMC) is the last opposing candle before a strong move, often used as a zone for entries. FVG (fair value gap) or imbalance (ICT) is a three-candle pattern where price leaves a gap that often gets filled; traders use it for entries and targets. Both fit under the SMC/ICT style in Eyes On You.
- How many setup types should I use?
- Use the labels that describe your trades clearly. The journal offers a filtered list per strategy so you do not mix incompatible choices. Start simple and add detail as your style evolves.