Choosing a wingman isn't simply a matter of calling up your best buddy and asking him to join you at a bar. "I don't care how good a friend a guy is, if he's a bad wingman, you're in trouble," says Gabe Fischbarg, author of the new book The Guide to Picking Up Girls. "If you have a really boring, depressing wingman, he'll suck the energy out of the whole group. Keep him as a movie friend -- you don't want him when you're rapping with chicks."

In his guide, which has been featured everywhere from CNN to Howard Stern to Esquire magazine, Fischbarg tells it like it is, from developing a rap to building confidence to sensing which girls are in the mood to be approached. And since no guy will ever make any headway as a lone wolf -- thus making the wingman essential -- we asked Fischbarg to share his secrets on how to choose the perfect Goose to your Maverick.

If you're alone, you're a serial killer, as far as girls are concerned. If there are three of you, one guy will be the odd man out. "Girls go out in pairs," Fischbarg says. "If there's two of you, you can take two girls away from any group, and the other girls can talk. And two guys can talk to three girls. A good wingman can talk to two or three girls at once." Meanwhile, you chat up your prospective girlfriend.

You need a guy who is willing to "take the grenade," no matter how little he is attracted to the friend (or "wing-girl") of the woman you're pursuing. "It's a chance to work on conversation skills," says Fischbarg. And he knows you'll be his wingman later in the evening.

A good wingman is a good advance scout. "See if it looks like they work together, are unhappy or might have boyfriends," Fischbarg says. "Any advance information helps your rap." Also, a good wingman can tell when girls want to be hit on. "If they're not looking around at all, they're not ready," Fischbarg says. "If they're standing toward the crowd, or drinking and partying, they're probably more fun and willing to talk."

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