I struggle a lot making the ball when using english. I'm somewhat familiar deflection (squirt) and throw but it's difficult to adjust my aim to account for both. Variables like speed, bridge length, distance, etc. all seem to come into play causing me to miss or to avoid using english when I should. Other than hitting a million balls, are there any tips to using english that can help? I generally use 'parallel' english as it seems most natural to me and use a solid maple shaft.
You pretty much described why some of us still don't play at the pro level, we just can't make every ball, especially with spin. If you can't compensate with the shaft you have, try another shaft. Aside from that, there is no magic to make a spin shot since every shot will be different in some way, including how you personally aim and shoot (mechanics basically).
There are also some subtle things with spin shots, they are not just harder to make, but the spin that gets put on the object ball also can reject it out of the pocket depending on how hard you hit it and where. My son still likes to shoot shots hard down the rail with draw and spin, then wonders why they bobble out a lot. For 6 years I have been telling him that tables don't like that sort of shot hit hard, for 6 years he has ignored me and keeps missing.
