There’s something that’s been bugging me for quite some time when it comes to the best expiration for day trading…
Everyone’s talking about 0DTE (zero days till expiration) options like they’re the holy grail of trading, but I’m here to tell you why that’s dead wrong. Let me use one of my day trading programs as an example because nearly 600 trades is a pretty darn good sample size…
After exactly 590 live trades in my Trading Zone Live program — not a single one using same-day (0DTE) expiration — I’ve got the data to back up what I’m about to share with you.
Here’s the thing: When the S&P 500 (SPY) is at $696.70 and we’re trading the $696 strike, you’re looking at $251 for tomorrow’s expiration versus $132 for today’s expiration.
So, yes, it costs more up front but here’s what you need to keep in mind: That extra $119 is the best insurance policy you’ll ever buy. Why? Because you’re gonna be very nervous with the 0DTE option, because time is not on your side, and it’s like holding a piece of ice that’s melting away by the second.
The Psychological Trap That’s Killing Your Trades
Let me paint you a picture. It’s like you’re waiting to do something, and you have somebody going with you and they’re bugging the crap out of you…
“Come on, let’s go, come on, come on, let’s go.”
After a while you’re like, just go already, leave me the heck alone, let me be. That’s what trading 0DTE options is like, because they’re going to push you to make a decision very quickly.
That pressure isn’t just annoying — it’s costing you money. When you’re watching the clock tick down while premium melts away on a 0DTE, you’re not making rational decisions anymore.
You’re panicking. That kind of stress forces traders into early exits, bad entries and emotional reactions. The 1DTE option gives you a good enough buffer so you don’t have to worry about time even if you’re holding it a couple of hours.
That extra breathing room changes everything.
The Performance Numbers Don’t Lie
Here’s where it gets interesting…
My Trading Zone Live program has exclusively used 1DTE options for the past year.
Now I know some traders use a hybrid approach — trading 0DTE in the morning and then switching to next-day expiration at lunchtime or after. I’ve tried that as well, and it can work when markets are moving cleanly early in the session before starting to chop later on.
Still, after all the testing I’ve done, I’ve never seen any major advantage to doing 0DTE options simply because it influences you in a bad way. The constant decay pushes you into decisions you wouldn’t make if you weren’t under that time pressure.
If you want to adapt your strategy based on market conditions, do it intelligently. Use 1DTE as your foundation, then make adjustments only when the market gives you a clear reason to.
My honest take?
Start with 1DTE, and if you feel comfortable or if you find that you don’t really need the extra cushion, then switch. But before making that call, test both approaches and compare the results — not just on profit but on your stress level, consistency and decision quality.
I hope that helps!
Roger Scott
Roger Scott Trading
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P.S. Wanna See My Top 0DTE Game Plan In Action?
Thanks to a special divergence in money flow on the SPY, traders in the know have been going after some of the hottest 0DTE setups every market day.
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