M9 · L3Wyckoff Method
Spring & Upthrust — The Fake-Out That Pays
Smart money fakes you out before the real move. Here's how to catch it.
What This Means
The Spring is a fast, sharp drop BELOW the accumulation range — looks like a breakdown, panics retail into selling — then snaps violently back up. This is smart money shaking out weak hands before the markup. The Upthrust is the mirror image at the top: a sharp spike ABOVE the distribution range — looks like a breakout, sucks retail into longs — then collapses. Classic liquidity grab.
Visual
The Rule
When price breaks a key level and immediately reverses, that's not a mistake — that's the plan. Trade the reversal, not the break.
COPY THIS
Do these steps exactly1
Mark the low of the accumulation range on your chart (the support line)
2
Wait for price to wick BELOW that line by a few pips/points
3
Watch the next 1-3 candles — do they close BACK ABOVE the range?
4
If yes: this is likely a Spring — enter long on the close back inside the range
5
Set stop loss just below the Spring wick low
6
Target: the opposite side of the range (resistance) for minimum 1:2 RR
Common Mistake
Not every break below range is a Spring — if price closes below and holds, it's a real breakdown. The Spring must snap back quickly (within 1-3 candles).