[jav] Better Bollinger Bands

28 sept 2021

Better Bollinger Bands (BBB)
This script is a modification of classic Bollinger Bands (BB).

CHARACTERISTICS
Main improvement over BB:

• There is no need to introduce a standard deviation multiplier (usually 2).
  
• Here, only a length is needed (usually 20 bars for BB).
  

Other features:

• The type of moving average can be selected: sma, ema, vwma, wma or rma.
  
• An inner band is plotted as an additional indication of approaching extreme levels.
  
• Classic BB can also be shown on the graph for the sake of comparison.
  

CALCULATIONS

The calculation of BBB is done by adding three different contributions:

• Standard deviation of price
  
• Standard deviation of (price minus moving average)
  
• Average of (high - low) over length.
  

RESULTS

It looks like BBB follows prices more smoothly (without the typical overshoots of BB). Also, it fits extreme values with higher accuracy. Finally, usually it doesn't cross through prices at less relevant, intermediate higher highs or lower lows, which can be advantageous.

See the comparison between red BBB vs blue BB:


Both vwma and ema seem to give decent BBB values using the standard length of 20 bars.