Text==>Dates

This forum is dedicated to Text Game and Sexual Escalation through it.

I'm working on my Tinder/Text Game as well. I had three dates last year with girls I'd had met online (POF and the likes) I'll use a canned opener and pretty much know where it's gonna go (have done it way too many times) Some girls are more receptive than others. Here's the thing:

I sucked big time with those girls on actual dates. With one of them we ended up talking about the likes of JFK and Abe Lin. Wtf? Who talks politics on a first date? That's when I realized I am a bigger looser than I thought I was. The second chick--we went to a local bar and a band was playing. I am not into bands and stuff but that date went horribly wrong too. Third was just as dull as an overused kitchen knife. I had read the book "The Game" before this all happened. I was trying to use my stacked routines but it all seemed so fake. I just felt it just wasn't me.

RSD Inner game concepts do make a lot of sense. It requires a lot of action on your part as well. My main question is what is the use of perfecting your text game and getting dates when you know you are gonna blow up pretty bad?

I am saying this very confidently, all those girls were sooo into me. I knew they couldn't wait to hang out in person. How could I tell? They'd text back IMMEDIATELY 9/10 times, apologize if they took longer than let's say 20 mins to reply (this was a weird one at first), one of them talked about giving me a bj to make it feel good (was kind of an inside joke), Goodnight/Morning texts etc etc. I mean all this indicates you've got them down. 

Then I show up in person and they are surprised to see the "real" me. This has had quite a setback on my self-confidence and self-image. I could just see that look in their eyes "Is this the same person!?!"

Is Cold Approach the only way to better yourself at this? I'm sure it teaches you a lot about your own self, social skills, women psychology etc. It is a skill set for sure. Has any of you experienced what I'm going through? What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

C7