Even trivial pursuits (knocking balls through hoops, tossing horseshoes at stakes) can be more enjoyable with the right tools. Sadly, much of the basic equipment needed to play the simplest games of yore have devolved into toys—the equivalent of a play guitar rather than a true instrument. Investing in quality gear (which generally requires shopping at a store that doesn't also sell coolers the next aisle over) is the easiest way to elevate a pointless pastime into something approaching an actual sport—an activity that depends on skill rather than blind luck (or the whims of the wind). Play these games for real and you'll...