I guess you're showing your age.  That's plastic ball bowling for you.  A touch high leaves a 4 (6 for lefty), and a little firm or outside leaves a 2-4-5 or bucket.

Last year was indeed the shark pattern, but the volume of oil was still low.  I know Randy always mentions the lower volume, but most people don't realize how important low volume is to make the shot playable with plastic.  They are only putting 10-12 ml total volume out for the plastic ball tournament.  At that volume plastic will find enough friction to hit pretty good if you get it into a roll, and not too much off the side of the ball. 

 

What happens with the plastic ball environment is that length of oil has a big impact on what style ( and hand ) wins.     More direct angles carry better, but short patterns make it tough for guys who can't go real straight.  Long patterns let everyone square up more, even the heavy handed guys.  Couch had the best look on the short pattern because he used lots of speed and end over end roll to play very direct.  The other guys who cover a few more boards are stuck with flat 10s or 4/6 pins if the get just a bit high.  On longer patterns you get fewer 4 and 6's on high pocket hits, and half pocket carries better.