AT FIRST:
I had a historically high rate of first dates that turn into nothing more. They used to depress me and keep from wanting to try again.

THEN:
I read a lot of self-improvement material and kept applying it in hopes to improve next time. But I still had the same lousy rate of success. The problems would be different each time based on what the material told me to do, but could not ultimately do everything right.

NOW:
I'm so sick of self-improvement books I don't want to see another one. I've come to terms with the fact I will always do something wrong, but no longer care. My focus is having fun. I STILL have the same terrible first date success rate, but I'll forget about it in a fraction of the time it used to take and only remember the good parts. I simply find another girl or something else fun to do.

Looking for input from experienced guys who've gotten past this point. Is the worst of the growing pains over? Or have I just pushed myself to the brink of giving up on dating?

I very much agree with the having fun on dates part. Good mentality

BUT if you are still having negative first dates, then you are most likey doing something wrong and you need to find and adjust it. I would not overlook this becuase in my opinion, first dates are the easiest part of pick up! Approaching, number closing, setting up day 2s, not getting flakes, logistics ect.. is all the hard shit!

You need to pay attention to what you are doing or saying that messes shit up. Maybe you say inapropriate stuff, maybe you DHV through talk, maybe you smell, maybe you don't escalate or don't seem like a fun and interesting guy. Could be many things but I suggest you find out what it is.

My first date going well ratio is high, I'm sure alot of guys on here will agree that you should not be having that many bad first dates.

Well, my problem with bad first dates is more than a message board can handle. I realize my social life has mostly consisted of hanging out with other guys while playing cards or watching sports. That my humor and subject matter I like to talk about can be seen as a DLV. Combined with my fashion sense it's clear that I've never learned how to be cool.

I was just hoping I'd finally crushed my inner game issues. Being an unattractive character is one thing, but feeling self-conscious to the point of withdrawing from society is unacceptable. One day, I may become better socially adjusted to the norm, but there's no way I can head down that road frozen in place.

I fully intend to improve further. Just can't make the "fake it til you make it" strategy work completely. It eats your ego away to feel you have to act to get people to like you. The attractive character I become will be 100% what feels right.

Try calling your first dates "hang outs"

Hey (girls name), lets hang out Friday night and go to that new romantic comedy flick.

Do something fun that interests you both, but don't label it as a date. Eventually you'll have to be able to talk one on one with a girl, like over dinner or whatever. Try reading the newspaper every day. Real easy to say "hey did you see that earthquake in Japan, terrible eh?" and have a conversation flow off that while looking intelligent.