Using Scanners in the Trading Room

Using scanners in the trading room is the fastest way to cut through thousands of tickers and land on the handful actually worth your attention. A scanner is software that continuously filters the entire market against rules you set: price, volume, relative volume, float, moving averages, gaps, and more. In our trading room, those filters are already dialed in and streaming live, so you skip the setup work and go straight to reading the data. This guide walks you through what each scanner does, how to interpret what it spits out, and how to turn a flashing ticker into a well thought out chart study. Think of scanners as your radar. They tell you where to look, and then your analysis does the rest.

How do scanners actually work in the trading room?

Scanners run constantly against live market data and surface any ticker that meets the criteria you or your team have set. In our room, the heavy lifting is done for you: the filters are built and the streams are running, so all you do is tune into the live feed and read.

If you want the mechanics under the hood, our breakdown of how trading scanners work covers the filter logic in detail. To locate the scanners, hover over the Pure Power Picks account in the Chat Room category of channels and click “stream,” then adjust the settings to match your setup preferences.

What does the Xtreme Master Blaster scanner show?

The Xtreme Master Blaster surfaces stocks trading at high relative volume throughout the day. Relative volume compares current volume to the stock’s average, so a high reading means unusual interest and a lot of eyes on that ticker right now.

When a name keeps popping on this scan, that repetition matters. It signals sustained attention, not a one bar spike. Pull up the chart and ask whether the technicals line up for a breakout or breakdown, and whether there is breaking news driving the move. Understanding relative volume is core to this, so brush up with our trading volume essentials.

Why does the Volume Leader scanner matter?

The Volume Leader scanner tracks the stocks moving the most volume on the day. Volume is the fuel that makes a stock move. Without it, price tends to grind sideways and setups fizzle.

Narrowing the whole market down to the true volume leaders puts you in front of the names with real participation, which is exactly where clean, tradeable moves tend to develop. Use it alongside our guide on finding stocks to trade and turn the standouts into a focused watchlist you can actually manage.

How do you use the Shorts Feelin’ The Pain scanner?

This scanner flags stocks that are heavily shorted but showing bullish trading action. When a heavily shorted name pushes up and holds, short sellers can get squeezed, and a forced covering scramble can add real fuel to the move.

Be honest with yourself here: many of these pops get sold right back off. The edge comes when the stock breaks and holds a clear resistance level with volume confirming the move. That is your cue to study it as a potential squeeze candidate, not to jump in blind. The SEC’s overview of short selling is worth a read if the mechanics are new to you.

What do the Calls, Puts, and Options scanners tell you?

These are among the most popular scanners for options traders because they monitor contract activity and options flow throughout the day. They help you see which tickers are attracting large buyers and sellers in the options market.

When the options scanners and the volume and momentum scanners all start printing the same ticker, that confluence is worth respecting. Heavy, aligned activity can point toward the names with the cleanest resolutions. From there, our step by step guide to finding options to trade helps you select the right contract. For context on how options are structured, the CBOE education center is a solid resource.

How do you read a scanner like a professional?

The pros do not treat a scanner as a signal. They treat it as a starting point, then run every flagged ticker through the same quick checklist before it earns any real attention.

After a name catches your eye, ask two questions. First, do the chart technicals set up a prime breakout or breakdown? Second, is there news or a catalyst with multi day run potential behind the move? If both check out, the ticker graduates from “interesting” to “worth studying.” Layer in level 2 data and, for longer holds, our approach to finding swing trade candidates.

How do you get set up with scanners in the room?

To access everything, you will need a Discord account, then you join the trading room and open the streaming scanner channels. From there you can adjust the stream settings to fit how you like to work.

If you are brand new, start with our trading room crash course to get oriented fast. Then explore bot commands to pull data on demand and round out your tool stack. The goal is a workflow where the scanners feed your watchlist and your watchlist feeds your analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to build my own scanner filters to use the trading room?

No. In our room the filters are already configured and the scanners stream live. You just tune into the feed and read the results, which lets you focus on analysis instead of setup.

Is a ticker on the scanner a buy signal?

Never. A scanner tells you where activity is building, not what to do. Always pair a flagged ticker with your own chart read and a reason for the move before you consider anything.

Which scanners should day traders focus on?

Most day traders lean on volume and momentum based scanners like the Volume Leader and Xtreme Master Blaster. These highlight the names with real participation and heightened interest during the session.

Why does the same ticker show up on multiple scanners?

Overlap is a good thing. When a name hits several scanners at once, it usually means strong, aligned activity across price, volume, and options flow. That confluence often points toward the cleaner setups worth studying.

What is relative volume and why does it matter?

Relative volume compares current volume to a stock’s average. A high reading signals unusual interest, which tends to precede larger, more tradeable moves than a quiet, low volume day.

Disclaimer: Pure Power Picks provides educational content only and is not a registered investment advisor, broker, or financial advisor. Nothing in this article constitutes financial, investment, or trading advice, and all examples described are hypothetical and for educational purposes only. Scanner alerts and chart setups are educational ideas, not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Trading stocks and options involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor. Past performance and hypothetical scenarios do not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and consult a licensed professional before making any financial decisions.