WickCheck / Trading school / Pin bar
Pin barHammer / shooting starBeginner
A candle with a small body and one long wick, showing a sharp rejection.
What it means
A hammer has the long wick below (bullish), a shooting star above (bearish). Context matters: a pin bar that sweeps the previous day low is very different from one in the middle of nowhere.
How to spot it
- Wick at least twice the body, body near one end.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring where the pin bar formed.
Related terms
WickThe thin part of a candle above or below the body, showing prices that were reac…Engulfing candleA candle whose body fully covers the previous candle's body, in the opposite col…Liquidity sweepPrice trades beyond a high or low, triggers the stops there, and closes back ins…
Why most strategies need a human behind the screen
Read the lessonWhat a mechanical test can and cannot tell you about smart money concepts.
Education only, not financial advice. Definitions vary between teachers; these are ours, written for clarity.