Force Index Trading: Volume & Price Momentum Combined
Force Index multiplies price change by volume to show who's winning—bulls or bears. Learn to read buying/selling pressure and spot momentum shifts.
- Force = Price Change × Volume. Positive = bulls winning. Negative = bears winning.
- Zero cross = shift between buying and selling pressure. Divergence shows volume not confirming price.
- Thrive displays Force Index with zero cross and divergence alerts.
Explore Force Index Signals
Click through Force Index signal types:
Force Index positive = bulls winning. Price up with volume. Sustained positive readings confirm uptrend has volume support.
Force Index
Force Index > 0
Force > 0 = bullish. Rising Force confirms trend strength. Pullbacks to zero in uptrend = buying opportunity. Strong trends stay positive.
What Is the Force Index?
Force Index combines price change and volume into one number. Created by Alexander Elder. Force = (Today's Close - Yesterday's Close) × Volume. Shows the "force" behind price moves.
Positive Force = bulls winning (price up with volume). Negative = bears winning. Larger absolute values = stronger conviction. Usually smoothed with 13 EMA.
Force Index Signals
Positive Force
Force > 0 = buying pressure dominates. Sustained positive readings confirm uptrend. Pullbacks to zero in uptrend = buying opportunities.
Negative Force
Force < 0 = selling pressure dominates. Sustained negative readings confirm downtrend. Rallies to zero in downtrend = selling opportunities.
Zero Cross
Force crossing zero = shift in control. Bulls taking over or bears taking over. Key momentum transition point.
| Force | Trend | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| > 0 | Up | Bulls winning | Stay long |
| > 0 | Down | Counter-trend buying | Bounce possible |
| < 0 | Down | Bears winning | Stay short |
| < 0 | Up | Counter-trend selling | Pullback possible |
Force Divergence
Force divergence is volume-weighted divergence.
- Bullish: Price lower low, Force higher low. Selling pressure weakening.
- Bearish: Price higher high, Force lower high. Buying pressure weakening.
More meaningful than pure price divergence because it includes volume. Shows real conviction failing.
Common Mistakes
- Raw Force: Unsmoothed Force too volatile. Use 13-period EMA minimum.
- Short periods: 2-period Force very choppy. Good for scalping only.
- Force alone: Combine with price action. Force confirms, doesn't predict.
- Bad volume data: Force needs accurate volume. Use reliable exchange data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Force Index?
Force Index = Price Change × Volume. Measures buying/selling pressure by combining price movement with volume. Positive = bulls winning. Negative = bears winning.
How is Force Index calculated?
Force = (Close - Previous Close) × Volume. Usually smoothed with 13-period EMA. Raw Force is too volatile; smoothing reveals trend.
What does positive Force Index mean?
Force > 0 = bulls winning (price up with volume). Sustained positive Force confirms uptrend has volume support. Strong buying pressure.
What does negative Force Index mean?
Force < 0 = bears winning (price down with volume). Sustained negative Force confirms downtrend has volume support. Strong selling pressure.
What does Force zero cross mean?
Force crossing zero = shift between buying and selling pressure. Above = bulls in control. Below = bears in control. Momentum transition point.
What is Force Index divergence?
Price vs Force disagreement. Price new high + Force lower high = buying pressure weakening. Price new low + Force higher low = selling exhausting.
What Force Index period should I use?
13-period EMA is standard (Elder's recommendation). 2-period for short-term. Raw Force (1-period) too volatile for most uses.
Does Force Index work for crypto?
Yes. Combines price and volume—both transparent in crypto. Shows which side has conviction. 4H+ timeframes recommended for reliability.