I think those definations are really great... though there's always more kinds of flows than you could think about, but the main ones are explained well.
Something i'd like to add (All my opinions):
A linear flow works best when it curves a bit from a note to the next one, a totally linear placement usually feels too straight and not flexible enough.
Also, this could be recognized as a kind of linear flow too. (constantly curve to one side)
Oval flow does not only included slider-slider patterns, circles could be used there too. (I know spacing may looks random to some of you guys, but try to get how the track works.)
Dropoff flow is usually combined with the first two mentioned, in fact.
If you could use the flows mentioned well and have your idea to the music you map, you're already a decent mapper.
(About "how to judge good flow/bad flow): Well... map/play more ww.
(About some back-forth patterns, some shaped patterns): Flow is not what the mapper pays most attention now, they will still play good when the patterns is limited in a small area, example:
This pattern won't have a good flow, but it provides another kind of feeling to the players (when it follows the music, or in a slow pattern), in the picture, 5-6-1 gets a simple linear flow to be out of the pattern area.
Something i'd like to add (All my opinions):
A linear flow works best when it curves a bit from a note to the next one, a totally linear placement usually feels too straight and not flexible enough.
Also, this could be recognized as a kind of linear flow too. (constantly curve to one side)
Oval flow does not only included slider-slider patterns, circles could be used there too. (I know spacing may looks random to some of you guys, but try to get how the track works.)
Dropoff flow is usually combined with the first two mentioned, in fact.
If you could use the flows mentioned well and have your idea to the music you map, you're already a decent mapper.
(About "how to judge good flow/bad flow): Well... map/play more ww.
(About some back-forth patterns, some shaped patterns): Flow is not what the mapper pays most attention now, they will still play good when the patterns is limited in a small area, example:
This pattern won't have a good flow, but it provides another kind of feeling to the players (when it follows the music, or in a slow pattern), in the picture, 5-6-1 gets a simple linear flow to be out of the pattern area.