what would you say is the most common mistake for beginners?

[Chucklz]

Not being an a$$, but not reading this site and available materials thoroughly and critically before even first picking up a pick. Invest in knowledge, then invest in tools then invest in time to practice.

[statuskuo]

Not being an a$$, but not reading this site and available materials thoroughly and critically before even first picking up a pick. Invest in knowledge, then invest in tools then invest in time to practice.

ok i comprehend the second sentence and i'm trying to gain knowledge right now. my 1st set was given to me by my sister who took a course on lockpicking as part of a military program.

[terrorlone]

While I first learn to pick locks, my most common mistake is to press the pins too much so that they get stuck. This is due to two reason; first, I give too much tension, and second, I re-press those pins which are already aligned.

But later, I become able to feel the pins with my picks, and I keep tracking the progress in my memory, so, for example if I had already picked the 3rd pin, I'll keep that in mind and never touch the 3rd pin again in the succeeding process.
Also I will use just the right tension to make the whole thing easier.

[desert_gold_hound]

I am just starting but I will give a list of problems I have seen others have after reading this site.

Bragging about how fast they can pick a lock to their boss, co worker, friend, nabor... THIS COULD GET FINGER POINTING GOING ON.

PICKING LOCKS THEY RELY ON.

PICKING LOCKS OTHERS RELY ON.

Picking noses they rely on. You may need to smell still.

[statuskuo]

While I first learn to pick locks, my most common mistake is to press the pins too much so that they get stuck. This is due to two reason; first, I give too much tension, and second, I re-press those pins which are already aligned.

But later, I become able to feel the pins with my picks, and I keep tracking the progress in my memory, so, for example if I had already picked the 3rd pin, I'll keep that in mind and never touch the 3rd pin again in the succeeding process.
Also I will use just the right tension to make the whole thing easier.

hey thats good advice!!

[quicksilver]

Well, the obvious answers have already been stated, but another common mistake that I see here often from beginners (in fact, this was long ago a mistake I made myself ) is to begin with padlocks. You can learn many of the bad habits mentioned above this way.

Could you expand on that comment? At my job, that is exactly what I have to do (padlocks) in ratio to others (entrance-way mounted) of perhaps 5:1 - I have needed to improve work w/ padlocks as that was a real work-related issue.

[Gordon Airporte]

Could you expand on that comment? At my job, that is exactly what I have to do (padlocks) in ratio to others (entrance-way mounted) of perhaps 5:1 - I have needed to improve work w/ padlocks as that was a real work-related issue.

Some people might have trouble moving to non-padlocks because they are used adjusting their tension to fight against the padlock spring turning the plug back. Some padlocks are worse than others, but some don't have this spring at all.
If you make a conscious effort to use light tension on non-padlocks it shouldn't be a big deal.