Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for collecting balls from a playing area, preferably tennis balls, comprising a channel surrounding at least a portion of the playing area for receiving balls rolling out of the playing area, a device of relatively high weight in comparison to one of the balls, adapted for rolling transport in the channel, such as a steel ball or roller, means for driving the rolling device along in the channel in order to pick up balls received in the channel, a collecting device for the balls which are picked up, and preferably, a device for propelling the balls back into the playing area.