What is Wick (Shadow)?
Wick (shadow) extends from body to high or low — shows prices traded but rejected.
Formula
Upper wick = high minus close (or open if bearish)
Indian market context (NSE)
Reference levels: Nifty 50 at 24,300, Reliance Industries at ₹1,300, Bank Nifty futures at 55,000 (lot size 30). Examples below show how Wick (Shadow) shows up on Indian index, equity, and futures books — update to live quotes in your journal.
Nifty 50 perspective
Wick on Nifty (24,300): on the 15-minute chart, combine with session VWAP and 9:15–10:00 liquidity — index wick signals misfire on expiry Tuesdays without volume confirmation.
Reliance Industries perspective
Wick on Reliance at ₹1,300: daily vs hourly settings diverge around results and ex-dividend dates; note corporate events in journal when wick readings spike.
Bank Nifty futures perspective
Wick on Bank Nifty futures (55,000): first-hour signals differ from post-14:30 behaviour; avoid standalone entries when banking names lead the move.
How to validate
- Forward-test Wick (Shadow) on paper or sim for two weeks after rule changes.
- Validate only on trades where Wick (Shadow) settings matched the written playbook.
- Split results by trending vs range weeks on Nifty before trusting the signal.
- Require higher-timeframe bias agreement if that is part of your rule.
How to track in TradeLyser
- Add Wick (Shadow) reading to trade entry notes (value + timeframe).
- Create tags: “Wick (Shadow) aligned” / “Wick (Shadow) ignored”.
- Monthly: filter trades by alignment tag and compare win rate and avg R.
- Screenshot chart context for mentor review on disputed trades.
Best practices
- Combine Wick (Shadow) with higher-timeframe bias — not as a lone trigger.
- Avoid curve-fitting settings on less than three months of tagged data.
- Refresh playbook screenshots when changing Wick (Shadow) parameters.
- Skip trading when Wick (Shadow) conflicts with written risk limits.
Common pitfalls
- Treating Wick (Shadow) as a guaranteed reversal signal.
- Optimising parameters on one bullish month only.
- Trading against higher-timeframe bias because Wick (Shadow) “said so”.
- Failing to log when you overrode Wick (Shadow) discretionally.
How to use this in TradeLyser
Measure wick as % of range in notes for pattern quality filters.
Reference guide
| Context | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Related terms
A candlestick summarises price action for a timeframe: body shows open-to-close range; wicks show extremes. Patterns are context tools, not guarantees.
Hammer has small body at top of range and long lower shadow after decline.
Pin bar (hammer/shooting star family) shows rejection from level with prominent tail.
Shooting star: small body low in range, long upper shadow after advance.
FAQ
Wick vs body ratio rule?
Define minimum for pin/hammer tags.
Long wick always reversal?
Needs location and confirmation.
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