Something else,
If at all possible be sure and hookup with a more experienced pattern guy. They will save you a lot of time learing to UNDO bad habits learned on your own. There is a method to the madness in pattern and if you truly understand how the maneuvers are intended to be flown it makes it a whole lot easier. I have seen guys at contest, including myself, get really pissed at their scores because they thought they were performing a maneuver correctly only to find there scores were not so good,,,, but easily correctible with a few minor adjustments to the throttle and surface control techniques you were using.
Pattern is NOT supposed to be subjective, there are precise and stringent rules about HOW to fly maneuvers. If you know the rules and the judges know the rules its a very predictable sport.

Find out where the next pattern judging clinic is in your area and go, it will really help you out bigtime and you can become a certified judge even though you probably wont be asked to judge until you prove yourself proficient at at least the intermediate level. But the knowledge gained at the clinic will probably immediately double your understanding of what is expected when you fly.

BTW, if you are an AMA member call them up and ask for a free AMA rulebook. It has everything you need to know about the sequence and geometry requirements of all the maneuvers.
Not only for pattern , but also for combat, pylon, control line, scale and every other discipline AMA sanctions competition for.

ALSO, the biggest governing entity for pattern is www.NSRCA.org (National Society Radio Controlled Aerobatics)[8D]