The three types of flat correction: regular flat (B retraces ~90% of A; C ends near A start), expanded flat (B exceeds A start; C extends beyond A end), running flat (B exceeds A start; C fails to reach A end).
Description
The three flat types are distinguished by the relative lengths of waves B and C. The expanded flat is the most common of the three. The running flat is the rarest and signals the strength of the larger trend.
Key Points
- Regular flat: B retraces ~90–100% of A; C ends at or near the start of A
- Expanded flat: B exceeds the start of A (B > 100% of A); C extends beyond the end of A (C > 100% of A)
- Running flat: B exceeds the start of A; but C fails to reach the end of A — trend is too strong for full correction
- Most common: expanded flat
- Rarest: running flat — a powerful signal of underlying trend strength
- Expanded flat C wave target: 1.236× or 1.382× A (moderate) or 1.618× or 2.618× A (strong)
