Pickup Approaches for Every Type of Guy

Whether you're at a bar, a game, the school, a park or anywhere in between, you should always be ready to act, should a girl catch your eye. 'Cause failing to prepare is preparing to fail, right? Here are some different approaches to suit different personalities.

The Confident Bro

You're hot stuff, and you know it. So do the ladies -- or at least you think they do. You might be a total dork, but that's beside the point. You have no problem walking up to a group of girls, spitting some game and getting slapped, punched or kneed in the groin by each and every one. There's always another party, right? Try these lines:

• "Those pants look tight. How do you get in them?" Cheesy? Sure. But so cheesy she knows it's a line, and also direct about what you're looking for.
• "Hi. You're hot." Couldn't be more direct, yet strangely flattering.
• "I want to take you to dinner. When are you free?" Very actionable. And she's getting a free dinner, so why not?

The Shy Guy

Whether you're shy or not, this is a great play. It's also risky, because you're less likely to get noticed. You're shy, but you aren't a total knob. You know you'd like to go talk to her, but you just can't bring yourself to do it. Try these tips:

• Buy her a drink through your waiter/bartender
• Smile at her, but then look away like you're a scared little schoolboy when she catches you. Repeat as necessary.
• Walk by her to go to the bathroom. Walk slow, like you want to stop, but are freakin' out on the inside. Repeat as necessary.

The Chatty Cathy

You're a social butterfly. You might not get the girl, but you can talk to her about nail polish without shame. If you make friends with 20 girls, one of them is bound to turn into a date. Try these techniques:

• Quantity over quality. Meet and mingle with as many girls as you can. Be friendly to the guys, too. Not only might you end up talking to the lady of your dreams, but you also might meet her best friend, coworker, brother/sister who hooks you up with her later.
• Don't be afraid to shut up … for a second. They'll let you know what they're into. Who knows? Maybe she's a huge Cowboys fan, and you can stop pretending to know the latest scoop on Jon and Kate.
• Play to your strengths. You like to talk. She likes to listen, if you have something interesting to say.Keep the conversation moving. Signal for another round with your hands so you can keep your mojo working.
• Don't forget to close the deal. You can talk to a brick wall for hours. Just make sure to ask what she's doing later, next weekend, etc. At the very least, give her your number. She'll feel bad not giving you her number -- and if she doesn't, you can move on quickly.

I can't emphasize how important it is to know your style ahead of time. Going in with the confident approach if you're nervous talking to a mouse in a pet store is a recipe for disaster, and it just comes off as creepy. You'll turn off every girl within a 100-foot radius, even if they don't witness the debacle. It's what's known as collateral damage. They can sense you just crashed and burned, and it takes weeks to erase the stench of failure. Better not to step in it, in the first place.