Despite how you might feel after 7 putting that last hole, putting is something even you can do. However, to putt well is really only a matter of technique, and here are six things you can do that will show a marked increase in your putting success.

Putting well requires two things; establish a pre-putt routine and hit the ball solidly on the center of the head of the putter.  The value of a routine is hard to overstate. It is doing the same thing each time, consistently, from the time you pull the putter from the bag till the ball stops moving. Hitting the ball solidly with the center of the putter is merely mechanics and just requires reducing the putt to the mere essential movements.

One frustrating thing for many players is no real way to tell if their putt is actually improving. An easy way to do it is with this simple drill: place a tee in the ground and then putt at it from 2 feet away.If you hit it, back up two more feet. Keep at it until you miss, then measure how far away you are. This gives you an objective number to keep track of. Try it, it will work for you.

Focus on the basics
No real secret to the basics; use a good grip with no tension and putt with your shoulders. Make sure your stance is clean and relaxed and that you are not too far from the ball. Any tension you may have will only keep your shoulders from working smoothly.

Shoulders square
Ideally, everyone would naturally set up square to the ball in relation to the target, but unfortunately, things are seldom ideal. People are not all built the same way, but the putting stance should not change: your shoulders square to the ball, feet slightly spread. If the feet are a problem, at all costs make sure your shoulders are square.

For long putts, elbow tight
When you are putting for distance, the natural inclination is to try to get more power in the stroke. However, the more you move, the less control you have. The way to do this is to make your arms work as a unit. Try this: put a glove or handkerchief under your left armpit and squeeze it into your side throughout the putt. If you loosen up your arm, the glove will hit the ground. However, if you keep the arms in, the glove will stay in its spot and the ball will go where you want it to, plus you get a more relaxed release. Practice holding the release until the ball stops.

Work on your aim
A simple drill you can do to improve your aim is to take 2 tees and put them about 4 inches apart next to the hole. Aim at this gap as the target, not at the hole. This will force you to use more accuracy and control, because using too much power will cause the ball to hit a tee. Do this, and when you are playing a game, the hole will look enormous.

Get rid of hand action
One thing that is almost a natural impulse is to "flip" the hand when you hit the ball. This is very common and yet very few people know how to stop it and so do nothing about it, causing them to miss many long putts. One very simple way to keep from flipping that hand is to slide a small golf pencil (like you keep score with) into your glove, point out, near the velcro flap. If you do and still try to flip the wrist, you will get jabbed by the pencil.

You cannot afford a negative thought.
Golf is not purely a physical game; it also has a huge mental component. If you let negative thoughts in, they will cloud your judgment and shake your self confidence. What you want is easygoing confidence, and that comes from practice, practice and then a little more practice. Only by practice can you get the confidence that you know what you are doing, that it is all going to work this time, just like it has thousands of times before when you practiced the putt. If you catch a negative thought sneaking in, just step back, take a deep breath and remember all the balls you sunk in practice. Your attitude is just as important as the stance or any other physical component.

There you go: six steps to better putting, and thus to better scores, lower handicaps and more pleasure and enjoyment from the game.