High-rate polishing method

The invention provides a method for polishing at least one of a magnetic, optical and semiconductor substrate in the presence of a polishing medium with a polishing pad. The substrate is fixed within a carrier fixture having a channel-free surface. The method comprises securing the substrate in the carrier fixture with the channel-free surface adjacent and parallel to a polishing surface of the polishing pad. The polishing pad has multiple grooves with high-rate paths. The method includes applying polishing medium to the polishing pad adjacent the carrier fixture; and rotating the polishing pad and carrier fixture to polish the substrate with the polishing pad and the polishing medium wherein the channel-free surface of the carrier fixture presses against the polishing pad to impede flow of the polishing medium into the substrate and the high-rate groove paths traverse the carrier fixture to promote flow of the polishing medium to the substrate.