The difference at a glance
A candle body is the distance between the opening and closing prices. Its wicks show the highest and lowest prices in that period.
| Check | Hammer | Shooting star |
|---|---|---|
| Long wick | Below the body | Above the body |
| PatternLedger context | Near recent lows after selling pressure | Near recent highs after buying pressure |
| What the shape suggests | Price moved down, then recovered | Price moved up, then fell back |
| Level to watch | The candle low | The candle high |
Two made-up price examples
These prices illustrate shape only. They are not real signals and do not prove that a candle passes the scanner's full rules.
Hammer
Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.
The shaded strip marks the last candle.
- The long lower wick shows the move down and the recovery within one period.
- The small body is near the top of the last candle. The example low is 90.
- Open
- 100
- High
- 102
- Low
- 90
- Close
- 101
Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.
Shooting star
Hollow body: close above open.
Filled body: close below open.
The shaded strip marks the last candle.
- The long upper wick shows a rise that did not hold during that period.
- The small body is near the bottom of the last candle. The example high is 112.
- Open
- 100
- High
- 112
- Low
- 98
- Close
- 99
Made-up prices. Shape example only, not a detected signal.
Why the earlier trend matters
The lower-wick example shows a recovery within that period. It does not tell you whether price was already falling or rising. PatternLedger looks for hammer context after selling pressure and shooting-star context after buying pressure.
An upper-wick candle after a decline is not automatically a shooting star. Do not rename a candle from its outline alone. Compare the prior trend, recent highs or lows, and the close.
Strict is a rule label
PatternLedger separates Strict and Loose candidates. Strict needs cleaner candle and trend evidence. Neither label guarantees a reversal. A score is a research ranking, not a forecast with a known success probability.
For a hammer, a move below the candle low can undermine the setup. For a shooting star, a move above the candle high can undermine it. Weak follow-through can also weaken the case. See the current Pattern Reference for the exact implemented rules.
Current PatternLedger rules
These rule summaries are shared with the Pattern Reference. Strict means that more checks pass. It is not a promise of profit.
Hammer
- Look for
- Lower-wick rejection near recent lows after selling pressure.
- Strict needs
- Clean candle, strong close, full trend and volatility history.
- What makes it invalid
- Below the candle low or weak follow-through.
Shooting star
- Look for
- Upper-wick rejection near recent highs after buying pressure.
- Strict needs
- Clean candle, weak close, full trend and volatility history.
- What makes it invalid
- Above the candle high or weak follow-through.
Check the signal candle on the right date
Start with the signal date shown on the board. A recent chart window makes the candle easier to see, but it is not the full history used for every calculation. Daily and Weekly views show different periods.
After you identify the candle, compare matching historical outcomes. Keep the same pattern, direction, quality, timeframe, and holding period. Do not combine different studies because their averages look better.