First-Leg Diagnostic
Elliott Wave Theory glossary · Corrective Structures & Sub Wave Math
Definition
Skill of determining whether the first leg of a correction is a 5-wave impulse (zigzag) or a 3-wave structure (flat or triangle). Dictates pattern classification.
First-Leg Diagnostic in plain English
When a market pulls back against the main trend, the pullback still has its own smaller shape — and reading that shape early is the whole game here. If the first push of the pullback breaks into 5 tiny sub-moves, it signals one family of patterns (a sharp 'zigzag'); if it breaks into only 3, it signals a slower, sideways family (a 'flat' or 'triangle'). It's like hearing the first three notes of a song and already knowing whether it's a fast dance track or a slow ballad — that early clue tells you what's coming so you can plan the rest.
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