Where to Draw Support and Resistance Lines? — On the Wick or the Body? 🧐📉

Correctly drawing support and resistance lines is one of the most important skills in trading. These lines are key to identifying areas where the price might react, bounce, or even break strongly. But a common question arises among traders: Should I draw the lines on the wick or on the candle body?

The answer is not as simple as choosing one option over the other, as both have value and context depending on the type of market, the timeframe, and the price behavior in that area. In this article, we will analyze how and when to draw your support and resistance lines, and how to interpret the wicks and bodies to get clearer signals.

🔎 First, what are support and resistance lines?

Support: It is an area where the price tends to stop and bounce upwards, as there is a concentration of demand (buyers) that prevents the price from continuing to fall.

Resistance: It is an area where the price tends to stop and pull back because there is a concentration of supply (sellers) that prevents the price from continuing to rise.

📌 The price does not usually react at an exact line, but in a zone or area of confluence. That’s where the context between the wicks and the candle bodies becomes key.

🏆 Draw on the wick or the body?

✅ When drawing on the candle body.

The candle body reflects the opening and closing price, meaning it shows the actual buying or selling action. The body represents the point where buyers and sellers finally agreed on a price, giving it more weight in terms of market structure.

Use the candle body to mark supports or resistances when:

The market is in a clear trend and the price consistently respects the bodies.

You want to define a clear confluence zone where the price has closed repeatedly.

The market is less volatile and the wicks are not excessive.

👉 Example: If the price has closed several times at the same level and the wicks are inconsistent, draw the line on the body to capture the true market consensus.

✅ When drawing on the candle wick.

The wick reflects the price extension beyond the closing or opening point. The wicks indicate rejection or manipulation by large operators, which can be a key signal of hidden supply or demand.

Use the wick to mark supports or resistances when:

The market is very volatile and the wicks show areas where the price was strongly rejected.

You want to capture the maximum price extension before there is a reversal or rejection.

The price has touched the wick several times without closing above or below that level.

👉 Example: If you see several long wicks touching an area and rejecting it strongly, draw the line at the tip of the wick to identify the true rejection level.

🔀 What is the best option?

The key lies in the market context:

👉 If the price respects the bodies more, then the body is the key reference.

👉 If the wicks are showing strong rejections or manipulations, then use the wicks.

👉 In some cases, it may be useful to mark a zone between the body and the wick to create a zone of confluence and not an exact line.

💡 Tips for drawing supports and resistances like a professional.

1. In low time frames (scalping or intraday), prioritize the wicks.

In time frames like 1 minute or 5 minutes, the wicks are usually more relevant because they reflect buying or selling pressure in real time. The price may touch a wick several times and show rejection before changing direction.

👉 If you are scalping and see several wicks at the same level, you have a clear resistance or support.

2. In high time frames (swing trading), prioritize the bodies.

In time frames like 4 hours or daily, the body is more important because it reflects the points where institutional operators are closing or opening positions.

👉 If the price has closed several times at the same level, but the wicks are inconsistent, use the body as a reference.

3. Confirm with volume.

Volume is key to confirm whether a support or resistance is strong or likely to break.

If the price touches a support or resistance with high volume, it is more likely that level will hold.

If the price touches a support or resistance with low volume, it is more likely to break.

4. Don't be too precise: think in zones, not in lines.

The market will not always respect a perfect line. It is better to draw zones of support and resistance instead of rigid lines. Use the body as the main reference and the wick to mark the maximum extension.

👉 Example: If the candle body is at $50,000 and the wick extends to $50,500, you can mark a resistance zone between those two levels.

🚨 Common mistake: constantly moving the lines.

A common mistake is to adjust the lines every time the price touches or slightly breaks them. Don't do it. If the price crosses a line by a few pips or points but then returns, that does not invalidate the level. The key is how the price closes in relation to that level.

👉 If the price breaks a resistance with a wick but closes below the level, it is a false breakout and the resistance remains valid.

🎯 Conclusion

So, wick or body? The answer is both, but it depends on the context and market structure. If the market is volatile and there are many long wicks, use the wicks as a reference. If the market is more structured and the candles close at similar levels, prioritize the bodies.

The most important thing is not to obsess over being perfect: the price rarely reacts exactly on a line. Learn to see the zones of confluence and interpret price behavior around those levels. If you combine that with a clear reading of volume and candles, you will have a solid advantage over most traders.

👉 Remember: The market leaves clues all the time, you just need to train your eye to see them 👁️🔥.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have a great day. Are you interested in learning more about trading, cryptocurrencies, or finance? Contact me, I will be happy to help you take your first steps or improve your knowledge. Let's grow your financial potential together!

And if you would like me to talk about a specific topic, let me know in the comments!

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Hugo S Centurión

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