A spinning top has both upper and lower shadows longer than its small body, representing exploration by both sides that ended inconclusively. Both bulls and bears made attempts but neither gained clear advantage.
Equilibrium between bulls and bears. Both sides probed but neither achieved a decisive advantage; the close is near the open. Multiple spinning tops at trend extremes signal depleted momentum.
Standalone signal strength is low (win rate 54%). Interpret by location. Multiple consecutive spinning tops signal momentum exhaustion; wait for the first directional candle to confirm.
A spinning top is an 'undecided' marker, not a trade signal. The first decisive candle after a cluster of spinning tops is the more important signal.