To offer my perspective on dates - work on expanding your social activities. Go to a wider range of bars, restaurants and music venues. Go to museums and art exhibitions if it takes your fancy with or without your friends.

This way you feel a lot more comfortable with social situations, you have lesss time to worry about girls and texting them and when you do have dates you have something that is a little more interesting to do than either the bar and not as involved as go karting.

My favourite in Exeter is the Underground Tunnels (a historic exhibition and tour of passages not a euphemism).
Not too expensive, interesting if you want to pay attention, you're still able to talk, crawl around the tunnels and have a good giggle plus it is different from most dates girls go on. When it's over it is right next to a couple of nice bars and cafes for an impromptu drink after...