You should not use low quality terry - but high quality 100% cotton terry towels are awesome But you have to make sure they are really 100%, not just the weave.
Nothing keeps the scratches away better. (drop a mf on a dried leaf and you might as well throw it away, even after washing there are pieces stuck in them that will scratch)

BTW: Meguair's sells a decent terry towel.

Waffle weave is the best for drying save the terry for polishing.