Hey guys,

I have been generally working on this aspect of my life for a few years now, on and off, and I am managing to make some good progress. I have managed to get to a point where I am getting a good constant flow of numbers and dates from girls through a mix of going out with a dash of online stuff added.

I am however, coming across a small sticking point which I am trying to overcome. When I go out and meet girls, I have usually had a little bit to drink, and so I am very fun and flirty. I also usually manage to make out with them. When I chat to girls online, I know how to be really funny, and usually get a good number of response and therefore dates.

When it comes to the first "normal" date, I am finding myself somewhat stifled (even when I've had drunken makeouts with them previously). I find myself being a lot more "safe", and really having some trouvle getting into a more fun and flirtatious mode. Although sometimes I manage to pull it off, and still get somewhere with them, it also means I am having a lot more girls not being interested on a second date, or it takes a few dates before anything happens. I know exactly what I am doing wrong, and i always beat myself up, as I can see myself doing it. I am just too "scared" to escalate things, and I am being too "safe" with my topics, and playing.

I guess I am looking for anyone who has an advice, or tips and tricks on being more fun and flirty on dates, and less middle of the road.

I mean, don't get me wrong. I still manage to joke around a little. Its not completely unbearable. I just feel I am still holding back. This makes it especially hard when it comes to transitioning to more physical play.

Personally, I am not someone who is especially fond of canned material, and lines, and prefer things to be as natural as possible. However, I do think they can have a place if you understand them as tools to forcing you to get into a certain topic or mode. So if anyone has an "tricks" or lines, or games or anything that makes a date more fun and flirty I would be interested to hear it. I have heard of things like playing thumb war, etc as a good way to get things touchy. Does anyone have any other "fun" things that are a good excuse to touch them, or any other "fun" topics or questions to force me to stop being so lame?

Or if anyone has any good mindsets or resources to recommend when trying to get things more fun I'd be interested to know.

Cheers.