I have the best results for me with flat foam pads, no waffles, no pancakes, dimples, just flat pads.
If you are using 3M compounds, then I assume you are using a Rotary, right ?
I have stacks of flat pads of different colors I no longer use.
I stick mostly to Lake Country Hydro-Shred Cyan and Tangerine foam. Great cut and finish for about anything. These pads work very well with the Menzerna line of compounds and the Optimum line of compounds. I frequently use a Cyan HydroShred and Optimum Hyper Polish Finishing Compound to get a pretty badly scratched finishes down to applying the Sealant in 2 passes..
If it needs more correction quickly and finish down very nicely, I will use Lake Country Purple Foam Wool and Meguiars 105, etc.... And then finish with Meguiars 205..
The results are always stunning. All Rotary power.
Good luck !
DanF