To provide a ball returning device which is used to return a thrown ball to the side of a player wherein a malfunction, which is caused by rebounded pins, can be avoided.

The ball returning device for bowling includes an open/closure door 7A which is provided at an opening 6A for introducing a ball and held at a closed position by a spring 23a, a door lock means 30A, which can be unlocked, to lock the door 7A at a closed position, a sensing means 40A to sense a ball received by the door 7A at its closed position, and a ball sending- out means to send out a ball which pushes open the door 7A and comes in after the means 30A is unlocked. And the door lock means 30A is switched from a lock state to an unlock state only when the ball sensing means 40A senses balls successively during a set time.