In tennis, a Hail Mary is an extremely high defensive lob shot. It’s used when a player is out of position and in trouble.

The ball is hit very high over the net, buying time for the player to recover. Hail Marys are usually hit from deep in the court or while running. They’re a last-resort shot with low chances of winning the point directly.

The name comes from the prayer, suggesting it needs luck to succeed.