What it does
Know Sure Thing (KST), developed by Martin Pring, is a momentum oscillator that blends the rate of change of price across four timeframes into one smooth line. Four ROC values (commonly 10, 15, 20, and 30 periods) are each smoothed with a moving average, weighted 1 through 4 with the longest ROC weighted most, and summed; a signal line (usually a 9-period SMA of the KST) is plotted with it. This layering captures short, medium, and long momentum cycles simultaneously.
How to add it
Click Indicators (ƒx) in the header.
Search “Know Sure Thing” and click the result.
Hover its legend row and click the gear to open settings.
How traders use it
- A KST cross above its signal line is bullish and a cross below bearish; signals are most reliable when they occur in the direction of the zero line's side.
- Zero-line crossings mark broader momentum regime changes: above zero favors long exposure, below zero favors defense or shorts.
- Divergences between KST and price at extremes are strong early warnings because the indicator already blends multiple horizons.
- Pring designed it for weekly and monthly trend work; on those timeframes it shines as a cycle and rotation tool rather than a precise entry trigger.
Inputs
| Input | Type | Default | Range / Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROC Length #1 | number | 10 | 1–100 |
| ROC Length #2 | number | 15 | 1–100 |
| ROC Length #3 | number | 20 | 1–100 |
| ROC Length #4 | number | 30 | 1–100 |
| SMA Length #1 | number | 10 | 1–100 |
| SMA Length #2 | number | 10 | 1–100 |
| SMA Length #3 | number | 10 | 1–100 |
| SMA Length #4 | number | 15 | 1–100 |
| Signal Line Length | number | 9 | 1–50 |
Plots & styling
| Plot | Style | Default color |
|---|---|---|
| KST | line | #089981 |
| Signal | line | #F23645 |
Every plot's color, line width and visibility can be changed on the Style tab. Precision (default 4 decimals), price-scale labels and status-line values are configurable at the bottom of the Style tab.
Reference levels
| Level | Value |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 |
Level values, colors and line styles are editable in settings.
Tips
- The pane keeps its height in saved layouts, so size it once and it survives reloads.
- Resize the pane by dragging its divider; collapse it from the legend row when you need the space back.
- Use Add to favorites in the legend menu; starred studies surface at the top of the picker.
Watch out for
- The heavy multi-layer smoothing makes it one of the slower oscillators, so signals arrive well after turning points.
- In whipsaw conditions the KST and signal line can cross repeatedly around zero, producing false regime changes.