There’s no question about when the ‘Buy’ signal occurs.
Here’s the same ticker plotted with HA bars where the previously generated signal is kept on the same bar.
But there is no evidence in that chart for making an entry on that day. The following day? Yes, but not that day.
Run this experiment with a bunch of charts and what you’ll probably find is that using HA bars delays entry/exit signals by one day. Now, that might be A Good Thing, or it might be A Bad Thing. That is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Personally, I love the clarity created by using HA bars. Charts are easy to read at a glance. But I also like the price advantage that might be obtained by getting in and out a day sooner.
The obvious compromise is to use both. Use a chart based on HA bars when you’re just trying to see what the short-term trend might be and unsmoothed bars when you’re trying to put on or take off the trade.
Charlie