Trends/Trendlines and channels

Andrews pitchfork

Three parallel lines that start from three swing points, built to show where a trend's lane may run.

Trendlines and channelsBest on 6M, 1Y, 3YAlso called pitchfork

Illustration of the Andrews pitchfork shape. It is a sketch, not real price data.

What it shows

You pick three swing points: A, then B, then C. A line is drawn from A through the middle of the B–C swing. This is the median line. Two parallel lines are then drawn through B and C.

The three lines form a lane that tilts the way the trend does. Many traders watch whether price returns to the median line, which is why it is drawn.

How we find it

The same code that draws it on your chart follows these steps, with the same result every time.

Find three alternating swing points: A (low), B (high), C (low).
Find the midpoint of the line from B to C.
Draw the median line from A through that midpoint.
Draw lines parallel to the median through B and through C.

Starting values: Points 3 alternating swings; Minimum swing size 2% of price. These are proposed and will be tuned on real price data before launch.

How to read it

The middle blue line is the median line.
The red line is the upper parallel, drawn through B.
The teal line is the lower parallel, drawn through C.

Status labels you may see

Label	What it means
Between the median and the lower line	Price is in the lower half of the fork.
Between the median and the upper line	Price is in the upper half of the fork.
Outside the fork	Price is beyond the outer lines.

What cancels it

A close beyond the outer lines for several bars.

What traders check next

Whether price returned to the median line.
Whether other swing points landed on the lines.
Whether a different choice of A, B and C changes the picture a lot.

Limits

The result depends on which three points are picked.
Few touches means weak support for the lines.
Pitchforks work poorly in choppy markets.

Try it in forecastviz

Open any ticker and choose Trendlines and channels → Andrews pitchfork in the left menu.
Switch between 6M, 1Y, 3Y to see how the picture changes.
Compare with Schiff pitchfork and Pitchfan on the same chart.

Open on a ticker

Questions

Why is it called a pitchfork?

The three parallel lines look like the tines of a fork.

Who invented it?

It is named after Alan Andrews. We have not confirmed other details of its history.