Tennis is one of the easiest sports to pick up for an afternoon. All you need is a racket each, a can of balls and a court, and public courts at parks, schools and recreation centers are often free or cheap to use. Clubs and private facilities add better surfaces, lights, indoor courts for bad weather and lessons, usually for a membership or a court fee.

You don't need to know how to keep score to have fun. A casual rally, where you just try to keep the ball going back and forth, is a good workout and a lot more forgiving than a real match. When you're ready to count points, the system takes a minute to learn: love, 15, 30, 40, game, and you have to win by two.

The Date Activity

Tennis makes a good active date because it's playful without getting too serious. A rally is a back-and-forth conversation with a ball, and the stakes are as low as you want them to be. If one of you is much stronger, skip the match and just rally, or play mini tennis inside the service boxes, which slows things down and evens out the skill gap.

Book an early evening court when it's cooler and the light is soft, and bring plenty of water and a towel. Afterward, keep it social over a drink or dinner, or turn it into a full day of friendly competition with a round of mini golf or a bucket of balls at the driving range.

On Your Own / With Friends

Doubles is the friendly way to play with a group: four people, one court, and more laughing than running. Many parks and clubs host social round-robins and drop-in nights where you rotate partners, which is a great way to meet people at your level. On your own, a ball machine or a practice wall lets you groove your strokes without a partner, and local leagues and club ladders can match you with players of similar skill. Rained out? Move indoors for a game of racquetball.

Good to Know

Wear tennis shoes with non-marking soles. Running shoes aren't built for quick side-to-side moves, and some clay and indoor courts don't allow them. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat for outdoor play, and a fresh can of balls, since old ones go flat. Some public courts are first come, first served with a time limit when people are waiting, while others take reservations, so check before you go. Mind the etiquette: wait for a point to end before walking behind someone's court, and roll stray balls back between points. Even one or two lessons will fix a beginner's grip and save a lot of frustration.