Something I've noticed recently, just a personal observation.

I'm 23. For a large portion of my college and post-grad years, I thought the key to successfully picking up beautiful women was to ride on the coattails of one of my womanizer friends. I figured i'd take up someone's offer to wingman for me, considering that particular friend was a true PUA, and i figured that success would come my way by virtue of my association with any given don juan.

.....But, my personality and inner game were the worst match for this situation. I've always been someone who compared himself to others, always been a little insecure, always been a little self-conscious. The obvious result is that, going out with someone i perceived to be better looking and more suave than me, I would permanently be in their shadow and it would destroy my confidence. My success level was practically zero when trying to use a wingman to my advantage. In addition, I would rely on others too much, i would lay back and take whatever girl was left.

Recently, i've discovered that going out, getting a solid buzz going, and wandering up to random girls has given me a success rate that I didn't think i was capable of.

i think the key reason behind this method's success is the fact that I'm only competing against myself. I am the leader, I am the alpha male, I don't bend to the will of the group because there is no group. When I approach a group of women, it's all about me, I am the best looking guy in the group. I don't subconsciously act in a way I think my friends would expect me to act. I'm a whole new person, these chicks don't know me and no one in the conversation does, so I can just be as smooth and as forward as I want.

For those who struggle with inner game, know this: the pressure to act in a certain way in front of your male friends CAN affect your confidence level in the presence of women. If you don't think you're the leader of your group of friends, it's gonna show, and for some, it shows enough to where it affects your game.

Give it a try sometime: going solo with the right mindset may just be the key for guys who either have trouble with inner game, or even guys who seek to rely on others too much. It forces you to be the life of the party in a sink or swim way, and for some guys, like me, being forced to realize your potential is the only way to unlock it.