The laziest sport in the world, by the numbers, is fishing from a boat, which burns about 2.0 METs, barely more than sitting on the couch. Darts and billiards come next at 2.5 METs each. If you want something that is clearly a competitive sport and still barely makes you move, darts is the pick. Below, we rank 10 low-effort sports using the scientific Compendium of Physical Activities, not guesswork.
Key Takeaways
- Fishing from a boat (2.0 METs), darts (2.5) and billiards (2.5) are the least physically demanding sports.
- All of these require skill, focus and practice, even if they don’t make you sweat.
- Golf with a cart (3.5 METs) is far easier on the body than walking the course and carrying your clubs (4.3 METs).
- Swimming, cycling and competitive table tennis are often called “lazy,” but they are real workouts.
- Low-effort sports are a great way for beginners to start moving and stay social.
How We Ranked the Laziest Sports
We used MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities, the standard reference that researchers use to measure the energy cost of activities. One MET equals the energy you use sitting at rest. Activities under 3.0 METs count as light intensity, while 3.0 to 5.9 METs is moderate intensity.
The lower the MET value, the “lazier” the sport. Where no official value exists, we say so. When a sport has a range, we rank it by its lowest value.
The 10 Laziest Sports at a Glance
| Rank | Sport | Effort (METs) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fishing from a boat | 2.0 |
| 2 | Darts | 2.5 |
| 3 | Billiards (pool) | 2.5 |
| 4 | Cornhole | No official value (light) |
| 5 | Bowling | 3.0 to 3.8 |
| 6 | Bocce | 3.3 |
| 7 | Mini golf | 3.5 |
| 8 | Golf with a cart | 3.5 |
| 9 | Disc golf | 3.8 |
| 10 | Archery | 4.3 |
1. Fishing From a Boat (2.0 METs)
Sport fishing from a boat is the least physically demanding activity on this list. You sit, wait, cast and reel. The Compendium rates fishing from a boat or canoe while sitting at just 2.0 METs.
Don’t confuse low effort with low skill, though. Competitive anglers read water, weather and fish behavior, and pro bass fishing has its own tournament circuit in the US. Fishing from a riverbank while standing is a bit more active, at about 3.5 METs.
2. Darts (2.5 METs)
Darts is the classic “lazy” sport, and for good reason. You stand behind a throwing line, toss three darts and step aside. The Compendium puts darts at 2.5 METs, firmly in the light-intensity range.
Under standard rules, the throwing line sits 7 feet 9.25 inches from the board, with the bullseye 5 feet 8 inches off the floor. The physical demand is tiny, but hitting a treble 20 on demand takes thousands of hours of practice.
3. Billiards or Pool (2.5 METs)
Billiards ties darts at 2.5 METs. You walk around the table, bend over for shots and spend a lot of time standing while your opponent plays.
What pool lacks in sweat, it makes up for in strategy. Good players plan several shots ahead and control exactly where the cue ball stops.
4. Cornhole (Light Effort)
Cornhole has no official MET value yet, but the effort is clearly light. You stand in one spot and toss a 1-pound bag underhand at a board.
The backyard barbecue favorite is now a pro sport. The American Cornhole League, founded in 2015, sets boards 27 feet apart from front edge to front edge, and its events have aired on ESPN and CBS.
5. Bowling (3.0 to 3.8 METs)
Bowling sits right at the edge between light and moderate intensity. The Compendium lists bowling at 3.0 METs, and indoor bowling at an alley at 3.8 METs.
Each roll covers just a few steps, and you sit between frames. Still, rolling a heavy ball accurately down a 60-foot lane takes real technique, and a perfect game of 300 is rare even for serious bowlers.
6. Bocce (3.3 METs)
Bocce, also called lawn bowling, is a slow and social outdoor game. Players roll balls toward a small target ball and take turns, so there’s plenty of standing and chatting. It rates 3.3 METs.
It’s easy to learn, works for almost any age and is also played as an official Special Olympics sport.
7. Mini Golf (3.5 METs)
Mini golf and hitting balls at a driving range both come in at about 3.5 METs. The holes are short, the walking is minimal and nobody expects you to break a sweat.
It’s a great low-pressure way to practice putting, which is half the battle in real golf.
8. Golf With a Cart (3.5 METs)
How lazy golf is depends on how you get around the course. Riding in a power cart rates 3.5 METs, while walking and carrying your clubs jumps to 4.3 METs.
So golf with a cart is one of the easiest outdoor sports on the body. Walk the course instead, and it becomes a solid moderate workout. The skill side is the same either way: golf is one of the hardest sports to master.
9. Disc Golf (3.8 METs)
Disc golf follows golf’s rules but uses flying discs and metal baskets instead of balls and holes. It rates about 3.8 METs, since you walk between holes and throw with your whole body.
Many US parks have free courses, which makes it one of the cheapest sports to try.
10. Archery (4.3 METs)
Archery rounds out the list at 4.3 METs. You stand still for each shot, but drawing a bow again and again works your back, shoulders and arms more than most people expect.
It’s also an Olympic sport, so the gap between casual and elite archery is huge.
Sports People Call “Lazy” That Aren’t
Some sports show up on other “laziest sports” lists but don’t belong there:
- Swimming: even at a leisurely pace, it works your whole body and is far more demanding than anything on this list.
- Cycling: a casual ride is easy, but any real distance or speed turns it into cardio.
- Table tennis: casual ping pong is relaxed, but competitive table tennis is fast, explosive and exhausting.
- Curling: delivering the stone looks calm, but the sweeping is a hard workout.
We also left out activities like yoga, walking and tai chi. They are great for health, but they are exercise routines rather than competitive sports.
Are Lazy Sports Good for You?
Yes, especially compared with not moving at all. Light and moderate activities still count toward your weekly movement, keep you on your feet and get you out of the house.
Low-effort sports are also ideal for beginners, older adults and anyone coming back from a break. Many are low-contact and low-risk, which is why several overlap with the safest sports to play. If you want sports that are easy to pick up as well as easy on the body, see our list of sports with the simplest rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the laziest sport in the world?
By energy cost, fishing from a boat is the laziest at about 2.0 METs, followed by darts and billiards at 2.5 METs each. If you only count classic competitive sports, darts is usually called the laziest, since players stand in one spot and barely move.
What is the laziest outdoor sport?
Fishing from a boat is the least demanding outdoor sport. Other easy outdoor options include cornhole, bocce at 3.3 METs and golf with a cart at 3.5 METs. All of them involve little running and plenty of standing or sitting between turns.
Is golf a lazy sport?
It depends. Golf with a power cart is light to moderate at 3.5 METs. Walking the course and carrying your clubs raises it to 4.3 METs, and a full round on foot covers several miles. Golf is also one of the most technically difficult sports to master.
Is bowling good exercise?
Bowling is light to moderate exercise at 3.0 to 3.8 METs. It won’t replace a workout, but it keeps you on your feet, builds coordination and is a social way to stay active. Bowling regularly is better for your body than sitting at home.
What does MET mean?
MET stands for metabolic equivalent of task. One MET is the energy you use sitting at rest. An activity rated 3 METs uses about three times that energy. Activities under 3 METs are light, and 3 to 5.9 METs are moderate.
Sources
- Compendium of Physical Activities, Sports (2024): https://pacompendium.com/sports/
- 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities (PDF): https://pacompendium.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/4_2024_adult-compendium-tracking-guide-1-2024.pdf
- Physical Activities Defined by Level of Intensity (Minnesota Department of Health): https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/asthma/schools/documents/physicalactivity.pdf
- American Cornhole League: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Cornhole_League
