First, remember a little polish goes a long way. Apply three or four spots of polish, about the size of a nickel, around the center of the pad.  Many machines offer a slow startup so you can work the polish around the car panel as the buffer ramps up. Otherwise, before starting the polisher you can dab the pad against the car panel in three or four spots to distribute the polish and prevent it from slinging off when you first start the buffer up.