The best tip for sparring is just practice, No tip or technique overcomes experience. Your gonna lose spars and your gonna win spars but there will always be that "weak spot".

In 2014 and before that when I didn't delay I used a very zigzagging Z like pattern. And would counter last second and well as counter enemies counters which worked amazing for me because it fit so well in my strong suit of countering and overwelming the enemy. When I moved to this crap dead zone and started delaying I couldn't do that anymore. I never landed a blow and the enemy landed more blows on me despite I was still good in my movement even if I had to make a new account due to I completely forgot the old email.

So what I'd do? Had to restart. Instead of zigzagging I practiced a rather plain style that I knew how to counter and figured out the common ways people counter it. And then I countered ahead of time where I'd predict they would try to attack me. Do I generally like the style? No, I could spar my old style but it's way to hard to hit anyone and makes me put in too much effort that isn't efficient in doing anything.