What pattern of polishing is generally used with hand polishing techniques to minimize surface scratches?

The figure eight pattern is generally employed in hand polishing techniques to minimize surface scratches on fiber optic connectors. This technique involves moving the polishing tool in a figure-eight motion, which helps distribute pressure evenly across the surface being polished. This motion reduces the likelihood of creating linear scratches that can occur with straight or circular polishing strokes. The overlapping nature of the figure eight pattern allows for more consistent contact with the entire surface area, resulting in a smoother finish. This is crucial in fiber optics because a high-quality polish improves the connection quality and reduces signal loss in the optical fiber system.

Other patterns like circular or oval might not provide the same even coverage and could lead to undesirable scratches or an uneven surface. The term "convenient" does not refer to a specific polishing method in this context and is therefore not applicable.