Glenn,

It took me a while to get the hang of this too but I found that:

I was using an adjustable speed polisher with G3 compound to the service super flat and clean. I also regularly would squeeze my pads into a bucket of water to keep cool, squeezing off excess. Makes a mess but keeps your paint and pads cool and safe. Once scratches are removed and happy with clean surface I then used McGuire tech 2 it's purple. I used the purple sponge they gave me to apply. Don't need to push to hard. I then used meguairs White cotton pads come in packs of twos from halfords. I used one to remove them one to remove finished swirls. And in all light it just gives a clean wet look. Looked good on my black mini.

Downside is it doesn't seem to last long so a good wax is needed really but they are expensive and only takes 10 mins to go over and old mini.