# Tracking Market Structure Shift Setups

> Market structure shifts identify when a trend is ending. Learn how to track structure transitions in your journal.

**Tags:** market-structure, trend-reversal, price-action, journaling
**URL:** https://traderjournal.app/price-action/tracking-market-structure-shift-setups

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# Tracking Market Structure Shift Setups

Market structure is defined by higher highs and higher lows in an uptrend, and lower highs and lower lows in a downtrend. A market structure shift (MSS) occurs when price breaks the previous structure high or low, signaling a trend reversal.

Journaling these shifts helps you identify the difference between a minor pullback and a genuine trend change.

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## What to Log for Structure Shifts

When you trade a trend reversal based on a structure shift, log:

- **The Broken Structure:** Note if price broke a swing high or swing low.
- **Volume and Displacement:** Record if the break was aggressive (strong displacement) or weak.
- **Retest Zone:** Note if you entered on a limit order at the order block or fair value gap left behind.

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## Eliminating Premature Entries

Reversal traders often get stopped out because they enter before the structure shift is confirmed.

Your journal will show you if you are violating your entry rules. If you see a high frequency of losses tagged "reversal-fail," check if you entered before a clean close below the swing level.

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## Analyzing Risk-to-Reward

Structure shift trades often offer excellent risk-to-reward ratios because you enter at the very beginning of a new trend. Track your average R-multiple for these trades to confirm their viability.

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Trader Journal for MT4 and MT5 syncs your trades in real time, making it easy to review your entry points against market structure changes.

Download it today at android.traderjournal.app or ios.traderjournal.app.