Noob checking in

I've read a few pickup books now. There's a lot of theory but I tend to find a lot of it kind of nebulous when it comes to actually applying the principles.

As soon as I actually approach a girl and start talking to her, I find myself thinking ''Am I actually 'running game' here? What exactly am I supposed to be saying/doing? This interaction feels a lot like the interactions I had with girls from BEFORE I ever read a pickup book. Have I actually learnt anything that I can implement?''

But when I read people on pickup forums say ''I ran my game on her. Once I got good at 'game' it all became easy'' I feel as though I must have somehow missed all the important bits in the books I've read....or I've read the wrong books!

I try to hold strong eye contact.

I try to be fun and not so serious.

I try to practice different types of openers.

I try to be more 'touchy-feely' in general

However, It feels that a lot of the time, I don't find the opportunity to use 'push/pull' or to even tease (often times I just can't find anything to tease the girl about - Not all girls keep saying daft things like in the examples in the books!)

Can you call it 'pickup' of you don't implement certain 'foundations' like push-pull etc? Is it possible to pull without that for example?

I guess it's partly because lots of 'game' books now seem to be mainly about 'inner game' - get your life in order, get exciting hobbies, remember that YOU ARE THE PRIZE!! etc - but I'm not sure you can call it 'game' if your interactions are still the same as they were before reading the books.

So then I think 'maybe it's all about memorizing routines and stuff', but I see that that type of game seems to have been replaced with 'natural game' (whatever that is)

If I am getting served by a pretty girl at the checkout, and I strike up a conversation with her, ask her how her day is going etc, am I running 'game'?

If not, what are the essentials for every interaction in terms of game?