You also need to take on-board a well developed social circle and social proof. If I go out to the meat markets (pubs/clubs). I generally go out with a few attractive women in tow. Or to a place I am well known at. Places like this are extremely hard for your average guy especially if you are single wolfing it. There are a lot of factors to deal with.I had been going out for years and been to bars picking up a few thousand times. I never saw many older guys usually 1 or 2 out of a crowd of thousands.. The few I see are shut out and standing on the sidelines, or just there with their older GF/date/wife. I don't need to open my eyes. Of course a good looking, aging well 40 year old can pick up younger women but that is the rare exception and not the rule.
If I am out shopping or eating it tends to be a lot easier as you don't have to deal with a large group. You can also hear one another and have more time to talk. There is a fine line between coming off as a creeper or a guy they want to know.
The basics work for me.
Joking fluff talk> when I establish attraction and she is ready, I start to look into her eyes a lot more and start mixing in personal questions> begin kino.
There's resistance at different steps. I generally mix in location changes, time constraints, changing back to joking with her on lighter subjects.
The age question pops up. Usually it's a sign that she is mulling over the idea of fu.cking you depending on her tone. I try to turn it back on her so she has to qualify.
Friends are always the biggest problem.
I try to get them to the lay as quickly as possible and develop a deep emotional connection.
Never get them to the point of being horny too early and leave her alone. Other guys come in and steal your work.
I felt a road block at age 33-37 with younger women for some reason. Was always in the back of my mind.