Most traders stare at charts all day. But if you want to see what’s really going on beneath the surface — you need to pay attention to options flow.
Options flow is basically just tracking where big money is placing their bets. Not opinions, not predictions — actual capital, moving into actual trades.
And when those positions are unusually large, placed aggressively, or show clear bias in timing and strike selection, they can reveal a lot more than price action alone.
I don’t just look at any flow. I want to see unusual size, sweep orders (which aim to get filled quickly), and trades that are opening, not closing. That tells me someone is building a position — not just managing risk.
When I see multiple large trades come in on the same name, same side, same expiration? That’s when my ears perk up.
Because that’s not retail noise — that’s a message.
Don’t Just Copy Trades
Options flow isn’t about copying trades blindly. You still need context. Maybe you’re seeing bullish call buying on a name like Nvidia (NVDA) or Tesla (TSLA). That’s great — but if the broader market’s rolling over or the chart is showing resistance overhead, it might be a head fake.
The power is in combining the signal with structure. Confirm the flow with a setup you understand, and you’ve got something real.
I also use flow to track theme shifts. If I see a wave of activity across several names in the same sector — like Financials (XLF) or Energy (XLE) — that’s a sign of rotation. Big money doesn’t tiptoe in. They move in chunks. And options flow gives us the footprint.
You won’t catch every move. But when you learn how to read flow — and filter it through your own process — it’s like getting a cheat sheet on where the serious money is looking next.
Ignore it, and you miss what the charts can’t show. Use it right, and you start seeing intention… not just reaction.
Graham Lindman
Graham Lindman Trading
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*This is for informational and educational purposes only. There is inherent risk in trading, so trade at your own risk.
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