Here's a few suggestions for you, but keep in mind that this is only my opinion. First of all, before you go any further download the Ebook in my signature panel and that will help you get off your feet.
1Z PP is a great polish but it's not one that I would call aggressive enough to tackle major swirls. I would start out by using some 3M PI II RC (I think the item # is 39002), which you can buy at most local auto part stores like Pep Boys, Autozone, and NAPA. The first step is going to be leveling the paint as best as possible while at the same time removing the swirls or at least rouding off the edges of the swirls enough to where the naked eye cant' see them anymore. This is going to take an aggressive polish or compound to achieve. My personal favorite is the 3M product mentioned above, applied with a cutting pad (yellow?). I usually put one small "ring" of product all the way around the pad and work small areas at a time over and over until all the scratches and/or swirls are gone. Don't get frustrated, this make take several passes for the bad areas. The surface will be squeeky clean and ready for polishing with your PP, and a white polishing pad. This will bring back the deep gloss you are looking for. Work your PP very slow on speed 5 and make sure you give it enough time to work all the oils in the paint. You will sometimes notice the paint actually darken after a pass or two. As far as how much product to use, you will find out very soon that if you put too much it will take forever to work it in all the way and if you use to little it will disappear almost immdiately before it ever has a chance to do anything. I like to put my PP in a small squeeze bottle so I have more control over how much product I am putting on the pad. You should be able to work an area at least a minute or two before it dries up completely or it's not enough. After this point, the surface should look awesome, and if it doesn't either you didn't compound enough to remove the defects or you didn't polish enough to bring back the gloss. Some people go on top of the PP with MP, but I find if you work the PP in correctly you can go right on top of it with your topper. I've been using GW, letting that cure for 24 hours and then going on top of that with a carnauba paste.
So, in a nutshell, the name of the game is take your time and let the product to do the work. Read the Ebook thoroughly and give it another shot. I promise you will be more prepared.:xyxthumbs