Wick (also called shadow) is the thin line extending above and/or below a candlestick’s body. The upper wick shows the highest price reached; the lower wick shows the lowest price. Wicks reveal intraperiod price rejection—long wicks indicate that price tested a level but was pushed back, showing potential support or resistance.
- Upper wick = high minus close (or open if bearish)
- Lower wick = low minus open (or close if bullish)
- Long wicks show price rejection at that level
How Wicks Work
Wicks show price extremes within a candle:
Candlestick Anatomy:
│ ← Upper Wick (price went here but couldn't hold)
│
┌─┐ ← High of body (Open for bearish, Close for bullish)
│ │ ← Body (Open to Close range)
└─┘ ← Low of body (Close for bearish, Open for bullish)
│
│ ← Lower Wick (price went here but was rejected)
Long Upper Wick: Long Lower Wick:
│ ┌─┐
│ └─┘
┌─┐ │
└─┘ │
Bearish Bullish
(Rejection (Rejection
at highs) at lows)
Quick Reference: Wick Interpretation
| Wick Type | Meaning | Trading Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Long upper | Rejected at highs | Bearish, selling pressure |
| Long lower | Rejected at lows | Bullish, buying pressure |
| No upper | Closed at high | Strong bullish momentum |
| No lower | Closed at low | Strong bearish momentum |
| Both long | Indecision (doji) | Wait for confirmation |
Example: Trading Wick Rejections
Long Lower Wick at Support:
| Element | Value | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Support Level | $95 | Key historical support |
| Candle Low | $94 | Tested below support |
| Candle Close | $99 | Closed well above |
| Lower Wick | $5 (large) | Strong rejection |
| Signal | BUY | Support held |
| Stop | $93 | Below wick low |
Wicks are the thin lines on candlesticks showing price extremes. Long lower wick means buyers rejected lower prices—bullish at support. Long upper wick means sellers rejected higher prices—bearish at resistance. Wicks reveal where price was pushed back.
Wick Patterns
Pin Bar
Candle with very long wick and small body. Strong reversal signal at key levels.
Doji
Small or no body with wicks on both sides. Complete indecision between buyers and sellers.
Marubozu
No wicks at all. Complete dominance by one side. Strong continuation signal.
Shooting Star
Small body, long upper wick. Bearish reversal at resistance.
Hammer
Small body, long lower wick. Bullish reversal at support.
Trading Strategies
Wick Rejection Trading
Enter after long wick rejection at S/R. Stop beyond the wick. High-probability setups.
Wick as Stop Placement
Place stop loss just beyond significant wicks—they mark rejection zones.
Wick Breakout
When price breaks above/below a major wick high/low, it can signal trend continuation.
Wick Analysis Tips
Location Matters
Long wicks at key levels (S/R, round numbers, MAs) are more significant than random wicks.
Context Matters
Wick in direction of trend = continuation. Wick against trend = potential reversal.
Timeframe Matters
Higher timeframe wicks are more significant than lower timeframe wicks.
Common Mistakes
-
Ignoring wick location – Wicks at random levels are meaningless noise.
-
Trading every long wick – Need confluence with other factors.
-
Not using stops beyond wicks – Wicks show where price was rejected. Protect against retest.
-
Forgetting volume – High volume wicks are more significant.
How JournalPlus Tracks Wicks
JournalPlus logs candlestick patterns including wick characteristics at entry, helping you analyze which wick-based signals work best for your trading style.
