I think its a fear people have to take a trade, fearing that if they go wrong, they'll end up making the broker happy. A lot of it has to do with break even being high. If the break even is 5-7 points, then you need more confirmation before u pull the trigger. That also is the catch. If a trade is going to give 10 points, u wait it out till almost 4 points are gone and then enter. At 10 points profit, they wonder, if they exit now, they are at break even. First sign of weakness, they either exit or they hold on with hope that their Sl doesnt hit. If the market does turn, then the next trade gets affected.
Brokerage is just part of the cost of a trade. Unless its low, slippage and other cost of trading will affect your ability to get in early. I used to enter with 4 lots, exit 50% at 7-10 points just to ensure my if SL is hit on the remaining 50%, I end the trade in the positive. If i feel there is a 5 point in a NF trade, i'll jump in, 2 points go to my broker, 3 comes to me... I generate a lot of brokerage. So what. I never know which trade is going to be the big one. So i attempt all of them. My system is designed to get me in early. This has a reverse effect on trending days. where i get whipped a lot. But when market is sideways, i do good. My problem was with exit and patience. The moment, trend turned neutral, i am out of the trade. 70-80% of the time i dont even wait for my SL to hit.
For the past 2 days, i let my SL hit. This one change in trading mindset, changed the outcome of the trade drastically. I played with much lesser volume i do normally, but result is definitely better.
So far 21 K is booked and another 37 K is m2m profit.
There is a trick in this strategy. I am not hedging the straddle with NF, I am hedging NF with the straddle. The NF leg is the biggest wealth builder / destroyer. If I let it ride to the SP, then I lose more than I gain from the straddle. I need to ensure that 2 of the legs are profit generating and the other is not loss making. when i doubt, I slam all 3 legs, As long as NF direction is ok... things will work out...