Execution and Review
How to review Turtle-style trades through journals, rule checks, version control and drawdown discipline.
Execution discipline is the practical center of a rule-based system. A trader can understand the rules and still fail by skipping signals, widening stops, changing size or stopping the system during an ordinary drawdown.
What to record
A useful journal includes:
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Signal | Records why the trade existed. |
| Entry | Separates intended price from executed price. |
| N / ATR | Shows the volatility context. |
| Unit size | Connects risk to account equity. |
| Stop | Documents the invalidation point. |
| Exit | Records the rule that closed the trade. |
| Notes | Captures errors, slippage and unusual conditions. |
Version control
Rules should not be changed casually during live trading. When a change is made, record the reason, effective date, test range and expected risk impact. Otherwise the trader may confuse system learning with emotional adjustment.
Drawdown discipline
A system should define in advance what happens during drawdowns. Reducing risk according to a predefined plan is different from abandoning the system after pain.