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There is a score, a ladder or an opponent in every one of these: tennis, table tennis, chess, five-a-side, poker, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, competitive gaming. Two-thirds need somebody to play against, and as a group they sit about as far from calm as this catalogue gets -- that is the point, the hour is sharp because it counts. Maybe not if you would rather not keep score, or if a loss follows you home.
52 hobbies. Each has what it costs to start, how much time it takes and a first session to try.
BadmintonHitting a feathered shuttlecock over a high net with a light racket.
BoxingPunches only: footwork, bag and pad work in a gym, with sparring if you want.
Brazilian jiu-jitsuGround grappling on mats, using holds, escapes and joint locks, not strikes.
BreakdancingDance on the floor with fast footwork, spins and freezes, often in friendly battles.
BridgeBid and take tricks with a partner in a classic four-player card game.
ChessOutthink an opponent on a 64-square board, over the table or online.
Combat roboticsBuild and drive radio-controlled fighting robots, then battle them in an arena.
Competitive gamingPlay video games in ranked matches, leagues and tournaments, working to improve.
CricketBatting, bowling and fielding on a grass pitch, from the nets to weekend matches.
CroquetHitting balls through hoops on a lawn with a mallet, in tactical turns.
CrossFitCoached, high-intensity group workouts mixing weights, gymnastics and cardio.
CurlingSliding granite stones down the ice towards a target, sweeping to steer them.
DartsThrowing darts at a numbered board and counting down scores in games like 501.
FencingOlympic-style sword bouts on a narrow strip with foil, épée or sabre.
Field hockeyDribbling and passing a hard ball with a hooked stick in an 11-a-side team game.
Five-a-side footballPlaying small-sided football on a compact pitch, usually in a weekly game.
GoPlace black and white stones to surround territory in an ancient strategy game.
Hacking challengesSolve legal capture-the-flag puzzles by finding and exploiting security flaws.
Ice hockeySkating fast and passing a puck with sticks in a team game on ice.
JudoGripping a partner's jacket to throw and pin them, after learning to fall safely.
KarateJapanese-style punches, kicks and blocks, drilled in lines and set forms.
KartingRacing small, low go-karts round a track, indoors or out.
KendoFencing with bamboo swords in Japanese armour, striking head, wrist and body.
KickboxingCombining punches and kicks on pads and bags, for fitness or for competition.
LacrosseCatching, cradling and shooting a ball with a netted stick in a fast team game.
Miniature wargamingBuild and paint armies of small models, then battle them on a tabletop with dice.
Muay ThaiThai stand-up fighting with fists, elbows, knees and kicks on pads and bags.
NetballPassing and shooting into a high hoop, with no running while holding the ball.
PadelDoubles rallies on a small enclosed court, playing the ball off glass walls.
Pickup basketballShooting hoops and joining casual half-court games at public courts.
PokerCard games of odds and bluffing, played for chips at a home game with friends.
Pool & snookerPotting balls with a cue on a cloth table, from pub pool to full-size snooker.
Pub quizzes & triviaTeam up to answer general knowledge questions at a weekly quiz night.
Puzzle huntsTeam up to crack chains of linked puzzles, roaming a city or hunting clues online.
Roller derbyFull-contact team skating on a track, blocking rivals so your scorer can pass.
RoundnetBouncing a small ball off a low round net in fast two-on-two rallies.
RowingPulling oars in a sleek, narrow boat on a river, usually with a club crew.
RugbyRunning, passing backwards and tackling in full-contact union, league or sevens.
Sim racingRace lifelike cars on a computer with a wheel and pedals, chasing clean, fast laps.
SpeedcubingMemorise move sequences to solve a Rubik's cube and other twisty puzzles at speed.
SpeedrunningBeat a video game as fast as you can, learning routes and tricks to shave seconds.
SquashFast rallies hitting a small rubber ball against the walls of an indoor court.
Table tennisFast rallies with small bats and a light ball across a table-top net.
TaekwondoHigh, fast kicks, patterns and sparring in a Korean martial art.
TennisRallying a fuzzy yellow ball over a net on a full-size court, singles or doubles.
Touch rugbyRunning and passing rugby where a touch replaces the tackle, often in mixed teams.
Trading card gamesBuild a deck from collectable cards and duel others, as in Magic or Pokémon.
Traditional board gamesPlay classic games like backgammon, draughts, dominoes and cribbage.
TriathlonSwimming, cycling and running back to back in one race, and training all three.
Ultimate frisbeePassing a flying disc between teammates to score in the end zone, no contact.
VolleyballBumping, setting and spiking a ball over a high net as a team, indoors or on sand.
WrestlingGrappling to take down and pin an opponent, Olympic-style, with no jacket or strikes.