Relative volume (RVOL) gates before I size a US equity scalp

[Fairman]

On **Relative volume (RVOL) gates before I size a US equity scalp**, the desk standard stays practical. RVOL is a gate, not a muse. I use it to decide whether a liquid US name deserves full size, half size, or no seat on the ticket — never as a standalone reason to chase a green candle.

Prep earns rent when it finishes before the bell: A-list, spread notes, news windows, and one sentence for stand-down. Unfinished sheets become open improvisation.

## Rails that stay on the sheet
- RVOL is a gate, not a size fantasy.
- Hot volume can still be hostile microstructure.
- Invalidation written in cents or an auditable structure break before entry.

## Concrete framework
1. Know your RVOL source and settings; do not mix vendors mid-week without noting it.
2. Define thresholds per class: liquid ETFs vs single names may not share the same cutovers.
3. Combine RVOL with spread. High RVOL + wide spread can still be a cut/skip.
4. Combine RVOL with structure. No predefined level = no trade, regardless of RVOL fireworks.
5. Size ladder example: below floor → observe; mid band half size; above ceiling with spread OK → full size allowed (not required).
6. Re-check RVOL into the decision — not only at 09:35 ET when you fell in love with the name.
7. Journal tag when you sized against the RVOL gate so Sunday review can see the leak.

## Worked example — RVOL blind size-up
RVOL 3.0 used to max size despite wide spread. RVOL gates participation quality; size still follows spread and risk rails.

I keep examples in cents and clock time so Sunday review can tag the behavior — not rewrite it as a mood.

## Failure modes
- Ignoring the rails above on **Relative volume (RVOL) gates before I size a US equity scalp** and substituting confidence.
- Adding size after adverse selection because the story still feels right.
- Paying open microstructure tax that midday memory never modeled.

## When to skip
Skipping is a first-class decision — even when the chart still looks persuasive:
- Checklist incomplete at 09:20 ET — observe or one pre-written A+ only.
- Live spread outside max for that symbol and session bucket.
- Index violently disagrees with a single-name thesis and no reduced-size RS plan is on the sheet.
- Platform, hotkeys, locate, or flatten path unverified after reconnect/update.
- Daily loss, PDT slot, or prop buffer tripwire already touched.
- News/FOMC/CPI window where the size-cut card says stand down.

## Closing
For **Relative volume (RVOL) gates before I size a US equity scalp**, keep operable boredom: written rails, measured cents, index context when relevant, and a skip that needs no apology. Process quality beats ticket volume.