pitchfork

The pitchfork tool is like planting three stakes (points) on the chart and stretching three rails from them: an upper line, a median line, and a lower line. It’s a classic way to visualize trend paths, balance zones, and possible support/resistance.

Imagine it as a “fork” guiding price: the middle tine (median line) shows the main trend, while the upper and lower tines help you see where price might bounce or stall.

Syntax

pitchfork(pivot, left, right, styles?)

Parameters

• pivot: The handle of the fork, usually the main swing pivot. Build with newPoint(time, price).

• left: The left tine anchor (first side point). Also built with newPoint(time, price).

• right: The right tine anchor (second side point). Same builder: newPoint(time, price).

• styles (optional) Visual customizations:

  • linecolor: color of the fork lines (e.g., color.red)

  • median: customize the center line style (color, thickness)

  • linewidth: thickness of lines

  • linestyle: solid, dashed, dotted

  • extendLines: extend lines beyond anchors

  • fillBackground: add shaded area if supported

Return Value

• string — A unique drawing id you can use to update or delete the pitchfork.

Example

This script creates a red pitchfork every 28 candles, using clear swing points for the anchors.

//@version=1
init = () => {
    // Show drawings on the main price chart
    indicator({ onMainPanel: true, format: 'inherit' });
};

onTick = () => {
    // Every 28 candles, add a new Pitchfork
    if (index % 28 === 0) {
        // Main pivot (handle): 35 candles ago at its low
        const pivot = newPoint(time(35), low(35));

        // Left side anchor: 22 candles ago at its high
        const left = newPoint(time(22), high(22));

        // Right side anchor: 12 candles ago at its low
        const right = newPoint(time(12), low(12));

        // Draw the pitchfork
        // - Line color: red
        // - Line width: 2
        // - Median line visible by default
        pitchfork(
            pivot,
            left,
            right,
            { linecolor: color.red, linewidth: 2 }
        );
    }
};

You’ll see a red pitchfork with three rails: upper, median, and lower, helping to frame price action.

Result

Tips

• Use clear pivots (major highs/lows) so the pitchfork rails are meaningful.

• The median line often acts as a “magnet” for price. Watch how candles interact with it.

• Adjust extendLines if you want the rails to continue into the future.

Warning

• If your three anchors are too close together, the pitchfork may look flat or unreadable.

• Don’t overload the chart with multiple pitchforks — it can quickly become confusing.

Good Practice

• Use one pitchfork to explore the current trend, then remove or update it rather than stacking many.

• Keep pitchforks color-coded by type (e.g., red for standard pitchfork, aqua for inside pitchfork) for easy recognition.

• Combine pitchforks with horizontal lines or rays to highlight where pitchfork rails intersect other levels.