Turtle Body Soup vs Turtle Wick Soup: What's the Difference?
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Turtle Body Soup vs Turtle Wick Soup: What's the Difference?
If you've been learning about liquidity-based trading strategies, you've probably heard of both Turtle Body Soup (TBS) Buy the CRT + TBS Ebook and Turtle Wick Soup (TWS). While they may sound similar, they are based on different candlestick behaviours and can lead to different trading opportunities.
Understanding the difference between these two concepts helps traders identify the right setup and avoid confusion when analysing price action.
What Is Turtle Body Soup (TBS)?
Turtle Body Soup (TBS) is a price action concept where price moves beyond a previous swing high or swing low and the candle body closes beyond that level.
The body close indicates that liquidity has been swept and traders then watch for confirmation before considering a potential reversal trade.
What Is Turtle Wick Soup (TWS)?
Turtle Wick Soup (TWS) occurs when price briefly moves beyond a previous high or low, but only the wick breaks the level. Before the candle closes, price returns back inside the previous range.
This creates a false breakout appearance and often signals that liquidity has been collected without a full body close beyond the level.
The Main Difference
The biggest difference between the two setups is how the candle closes.
| Turtle Body Soup (TBS) | Turtle Wick Soup (TWS) |
|---|---|
| Candle body closes beyond the previous high or low | Only the wick breaks the previous high or low |
| Stronger liquidity sweep | Quick rejection of the level |
| Wait for confirmation before entry | Wait for confirmation before entry |
| Uses body close as the key condition | Uses wick rejection as the key condition |
When Does Turtle Body Soup Form?
A TBS setup may appear when:
Price breaks a previous swing level.
The candle body closes beyond that level.
Liquidity is collected.
The market later shows signs of reversing.
When Does Turtle Wick Soup Form?
A TWS setup may appear when:
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Price briefly spikes above or below a previous level.
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Only the wick breaks the level.
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The candle closes back inside the previous range.
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The rejection suggests that buyers or sellers failed to continue the breakout.
Which Setup Is Better?
Neither setup is automatically better than the other.
Both are based on liquidity and market behaviour. The quality of a trade depends on factors such as:
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Higher-timeframe market direction
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Market structure
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Confirmation signals
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Risk management
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Trading discipline
Instead of choosing one over the other, experienced traders focus on following clear rules and waiting for high-quality setups.
Common Mistakes
Many traders make these mistakes:
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Confusing a body close with a wick rejection.
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Entering before confirmation.
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Ignoring higher-timeframe bias.
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Trading every liquidity sweep.
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Risking too much on a single trade.
Learning to recognise the difference between TBS and TWS can help improve trade selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Turtle Body Soup the same as Turtle Wick Soup?
No. Turtle Body Soup requires a body close beyond the previous high or low, while Turtle Wick Soup involves only the wick breaking the level before closing back inside.
Can both setups work in Forex?
Yes. Both concepts can be applied to Forex and other liquid markets, provided traders combine them with proper confirmation and risk management.
Should beginners learn both?
Yes. Understanding both concepts gives traders a better understanding of liquidity sweeps and price action.
Final Thoughts
Although Turtle Body Soup and Turtle Wick Soup are both based on liquidity sweeps, the difference lies in how the candlestick interacts with the previous high or low. A body close beyond the level creates a Turtle Body Soup setup, while a wick-only rejection creates a Turtle Wick Soup setup.
By learning the characteristics of both setups and combining them with sound market analysis and disciplined risk management, traders can build a more structured approach to price action trading.