To me this topic's answers fall on the artistic side of detailing. I don't have a guideline aside from evaluating the finish after a test spot and then making a decision on-the-spot to step up the product and/or pad. Sometimes I will step both up at the same time given the previous test.
If you decide you need to be a little more aggressive, do you go with a more aggressive compound or more aggressive pad first?
IMO the product is the more relevant point between the two. Case in point if a polish such as Menzerma 4500/3800 and a white pad wouldn't remove a blemish on my S4 I would then move to up 1-2, likely 2 steps up more aggressive product.
The reason being most of the newer products out there finish quite nicely and I don't want a more aggressive pad just yet, that could perhaps leave a bit of a haze. Splitting hairs at the lower / finer end of things but pads can cause more micro marks whereas products tend to finish pretty nicely.
2019 Pearl White Accord 2.0T Touring (mine)
2023 Snowflake Pearl White CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus(wife) 2010 Urban Platinum Metallic CRV EX-L & 2014 Mica Black Metallic Toyota Corolla S (kids)
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