UFO extender says it contains a slip agent, black magic just says "polish," and delayed reaction gives an actual grit. This is what is causing me confusion.
Talking from a few years experience, you can almost ignore any grit levels given on any product, because
every polish has some amount of micro-abrasive in it. By your application of it, you are breaking down those abrasives into smaller and smaller sizes. About the only evaluation you can put on the grit level of any two polishes is to say that one takes less effort to put a glossy shine on any given ball than another.
The major example of this is Storm's Reacta Shine (bottle says 1500 grit) and Xtra Shine (bottle says 3500 grit). Neither of those 2 numbers have any relation to the final grit level of the ball being polished. Those 2 numbers tell me that it is easier to put a high gloss shine using Xtra Shine than it is using Reacta Shine.
Given the huge number of variables involved in polishing a ball, starting with the base grit level of the ball (much more important than the girt level specified on the polish bottle) which can vary anywhere from 360 grit to 6000/8000 grit (White Trizact pad), the amount of polish being used, the amount of pressure used, time spent per side of the ball, whether it's being done on a spinner or by hand, etc.,
the most important factor involved is the consistency with which the person applies the polish to the ball.
As far as I have seen the polishing level of Delayed Reaction is not much different from UFO. Both are effective. Much more important is the type of slip agent used in each and the ease of removal. I believe DR uses standard silicone, as the slip agent to reduce the oil absorption and UFO uses what the manufacturer, Valentino's, has termed an organic slip agent. DR needs a very rough sanding, around 500 grit to remove the sip agent. UFO needs only the lightest of abrasives, like a 4000 grit pad to remove the slip agent. UFO lasts approximately 25 games and needs to be renewed. But by that time, most polished balls will need to have their gloss level renewed in any case.
Both DR and UFO need at least 2 firm applications of the polish to have a true effect on the ball: reduced hook & reduced backend, and the ball would best be served by having a relatively fine grit level on it (2000 - 4000 grit is my suggestion) before applying either polish.
