Well, they worked well until the author dumb enough to write book on it...and most good systems you have it all written in two pages so the other 297 pages are filler.
I agree with you good systems can be written in 2 pages, but disagree that writing a book makes the system less powerful somehow.
Gloria, I think I read everything there was to read but the lights didn't come on until I spent countless hours watching price development on the charts. Better IMO to build off what you see rather than try and see through another's eyes.
Well just ask Gary Smith and Curtis Arnold, each had very viable systems, sold their systems and before you knew it, the floor bought one copy and everyone had these systems. Yea, they were great systems when no one knew about them. And most regular books are missing a chapter. They don't either know or won't give that last chapter.
From what I found with google search, they've traded commodities. Commodity markets can't be manipulated so the chances are they didn't have a viable system in the first place.
LOL, what you don't know. Some of the pits were not only traders but they were CEO's of their own companies especially in Meats, grains and softs, some even were part owners of brokerages. They can be manipulated by holding product back like cattle. Gary Smith traded S&P500 which is a hedge for stocks. But it be no different than if he traded SPY. Or Curtis Arnold using his system on stocks. Ever hear about the Hunt brothers? They were doing well till exchanges got involved as brothers were trying to corner the sliver market. And I had both books and traded both ways till I saw losses and then figured out how to overcome some weaknesses, you could see the floor pushing the markets to stop losses first and half times market went right way. Gary Smith market get traders in and slap back for stops to hit. Curtis Arnold system is actually better on stocks.