The History of Mal Atwell Leisure Group

The company was founded in 1969 in Perth, Western Australia. Initially, it had only one employee, namely Malcolm Atwell. Today, whilst still very much a family organisation, the group of companies now employs in excess of 30 personnel and has an annual turn-over exceeding $A10 million.

The intervening years have seen considerable growth and diversification on both sides of the Australian continent. In Western Australia, the siting of commercial pool tables and juke boxes, was augmented with video gaming machines, lottery ticket machines, fund raising and the manufacturing and sales of home billiard tables. The group's activities were further enlarged by the acquisition of Pot Black. Pot Black is arguably the best Commercial Pool Table available on the market today and is proudly manufactured at the group's premises in Willetton, Western Australia.

In 1988 a substantial interest was acquired in Consolidated Leisure and Sport Pty Ltd (CL&S) an east coast wholesale and distribution company based in Melbourne. CL&S currently enjoys the pre-eminent position of being the largest wholesaler of pool and billiard equipment, as well as accessories in Australia. In addition CL&S is the sole distributor for Aramith Billiard Balls (Belgium), Strachan and Mitchell Cloth (England), amongst many other associated products.

Our fund raising division is the largest supplier of fund raising products in Western Australia and holds a license to supply these products from the Western Australian Office of Gaming. We enjoy participating in community welfare and take a great deal of pride in the fact that since August, 1996, we have, through our various fund raising activities, been able to distribute in excess of $5,000,000 to charitable, sporting and community organisations.

The family is proud of what has been achieved so far and know that with persistent dedication, hard work, our superb range of products and our commitment to after sales service, we can confidently look forward to continued growth.

(Recognised by all National and Continental Federations of the World Pool-Billiard Association)

1. Object of the Game
8-Ball is a Call Shot game (the ball and pocket must be nominated) and is played with a cue ball and fifteen coloured balls, numbered 1 through 15. One player must pocket balls of the group 1 through 7 (solid colours), while the other player has the group 9 through 15 (stripes). The player pocketing his or her group and then legally pocketing the 8-ball wins the game.

2. Call Shot
In Call Shot, obvious balls and pockets do not have to be indicated. It is the opponent's right to ask which ball and pocket if he is unsure of the shot. Doubles and combinations are not considered obvious and both the object ball and pocket may be called. When calling the shot, it is never necessary to indicted details such as the number or rails (cushions), doubles, cannons etc.

3. The Rack
The balls are racked in a triangle at the foot of the table with the 8-Ball in the centre of the triangle, the first ball of the rack on the spot, a striped ball in one corner of the rack and a solid ball in another.

4. Alternate Break
The winner of a coin toss of lag has the option to break. During individual competition, players will alternate break in each subsequent game.

5. Legal Break Shot
To execute a legal break, the player (with cue ball behind the baulk line) must either:

1. pocket a numbered ball, or

2. drive four numbered balls to the rail.

If he fails to make a legal break, the incoming player has the option of:

1. accepting the table in position and shooting, or

2. having the balls re-racked and having the option of shooting the opening break himself or allowing the offending player to break again.

It is not necessary to hit the head ball (the ball that is on the spot) to initiate a legal break.

The opening break is not a Call Shot. If any object ball is pocketed on a legal break, then that player continues his innings at the table and the table is open.

6. Scratch On A Legal Break
If a player scratches (cue ball pocketed) or forces the cue ball from the table, it is a foul and the table is open. All balls pocketed remain pocketed (Exception: the 8-ball, refer rule 7).

7. 8-Ball Pocketed On The Break
If the 8-ball is pocketed on the break, the breaking player may ask for a re-rack or have the 8-ball re-spotted and continue shooting. If the breaking player scratches while pocketing the 8-ball on the break, the incoming player has the option of a re-rack or having the 9-ball re-spotted and begin shooting with the cue ball in hand behind the baulk line. If the 8-ball is to be re-spotted, it will be placed on the spot or as close as possible to the spot along the string line.

8. Open Table Or Choice Of Group
Selection of a group 9s not determined by a ball(s) pocketed on the break shot. The first legally pocketed ball after the break shot determines the groups. While the table is open it is legal to first hit any ball, (but not the 8-ball) in the process of pocketing the called object ball.

9. Legal Shot
On all shots (except the break or when the table is open) the player must hit one of his group of balls first and:

1. Pocket an object ball, or

2. Cause the cue ball or any object ball to contact a rail.

Note: It is legal for the shooter to double the cue ball off a rail before contacting his object ball. However, after contact with his object ball, an object ball must be pocketed or any ball must contact a rail.

10. Safety (Tactical) Play
Safety play is defined as a legal shot. The player may choose to pocket an obvious object ball and discontinue his turn at the table. Prior to the shot, he must declare a safety to his opponent. If this is not done, the player will be required to shoot again.

11. Scoring
A player is entitled to continue shooting until he fails to legally pocket a ball of his group. After a player has legally pocketed all of his group he shoots to pocket the 8-ball.

12. Foul
The following infractions result in fouls:

a. Failure to execute a legal shot as previously defined.

b. A scratch shot (shooting the cue ball into a pocket or off the table).

c. Shooting without at least one foot touching the floor.

d. Moving or touching any ball in any fashion by a means other than legal play.

e. Shooting a jump shot by striking the cue ball below centre, therefore causing the cue ball to miscue or scoop the cue ball.

Note: A player does not commit a foul when he accidentally miscues and causes the ball to lift above the surface of the table.

13. Foul Penalty
The penalty for a foul is for the opposing player to have the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table (except scratch on break, see rule 6).

14. Combination Shots
Combination shots are allowed, however the 8-ball or opponents ball cannot be struck first by the cue ball except when the table is open.

15. Illegally Pocketed Balls
Illegally pocketed balls are not re-spotted (except the 8-ball on break, see rule 7)

16. Object Balls Jumped Off Table
At all times, if any object ball is jumped off the table, it is a foul shot. The ball(s) is/are re-spotted and the incoming player has the cue ball in hand. If the 8-ball is jumped off the table it is a loss of game.

17. Object Balls Frozen To Rail
This rule applies when the player's object ball struck first by the cue ball is frozen to the rail. After the cue ball contacts this object the player must - 1. pocket the frozen ball or any other object ball, or 2. drive the frozen object ball to another rail, or 3. drive the cue ball or any object ball to any rail. Failure to do so is a foul.

18. Touching Ball Or Double Hit
If the cue ball is touching an object ball, the player may shoot towards it with a level cue, providing the cue strikes rather than pushes the cue ball. To play away from the object ball is deemed to have not made contact with it. If the cue ball is not touching the object ball it is a foul if the cue tip strikes the cue ball twice or is still in contact with the cue ball when it strikes the object ball.

19. Playing The 8-Ball
When shooting at the 8-ball, a scratch or a foul is not a loss of game unless the 8-ball is pocketed or jumped from the table. The incoming player has the cue ball in hand.

20. Loss of Game
A player loses the game if he commits any of the following

a. Foul when pocketing the 8-ball (exception: refer rule 7).

b. Jumps the 8-ball off the table at any time.

c. Pockets the 8-ball in a pocket other than the one nominated (exception: rule 7).

d. Pockets the 8-ball when it is not the legal object ball.

(Recognised by all National and Continental Federations of the World Pool-Billiard Association)

1. Object of The Game
9-Ball is played with a cue ball and nine coloured balls numbered 1 through 9. The player must always this the lowest numerical ball first. The ball or pocket need not be nominated. Whichever player legally pockets the 9-ball first wins the game.

2. The Rack
The balls are racked in a diamond configuration with the 1-ball on the spot and the 9-ball in the centre

3. Order of Play
The order of play is determined by lag, or by coin toss, with the winner having the option to break. In subsequent games the winner of the game brakes in the next game.

4. Legal Brake Shot
In the open break shot, the player must shoot the cue ball from behind the baulk line. The game does not start until the cue ball crosses the baulk line. The breaking player must either pocket an object ball or send at least four object balls to the rail (Cushion) to be legal. Failure to do this or scratching the cue ball (in-off) is a foul break, and the incoming player has the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table.

5. Push Out
The player who plays the shot immediately after the legal break shot may play a "Push Out". This is the only time during a game where a "Push Out" may be used. A player must announce his intentions to "Push Out". On a "Push Out" the player may play the cue ball anywhere and it is not required to contact any object ball or rail. Following a legal "Push Out" the incoming player is permitted to play from the resulting position or to pass the shot back to the player who "Pushed Out"

6. Legal Shot
To be a legal shot the cue ball must always hit the lowest numbered ball first and either cause an object ball to be pocketed or cause any ball to contact a rail. To do otherwise is considered a foul.

7. Continuing Play
A Player shall continue when any ball is pocketed on a legal shot.

8. Object Ball Frozen to the Rail
This rule applies when the lowest numbered ball to be struck at first impact by the cue ball is frozen to the rail. After the cue ball contacts the object ball the player must:

1. pocket the frozen ball or any other object ball, or

2. drive the frozen object ball to another rail, or

3. drive the cue ball or any object ball to any rail.

Failure to do is a foul.

1. Fouls
If a player fouls on the break shot or any other shot as previously defined, the incoming player has the cue ball in hand anywhere on the table. (That is, the player may reposition the cue ball anywhere on the table and play in any direction.)

2. Re-Spotting of Balls
No object ball(s) pocketed on a foul stroke or jumped from the table is re-spotted. The exception is the 9-ball, which is placed on the sport or as close as possible to the spot along the string line. The incoming player has the cue ball in hand.

3. Three Consecutive Fouls
If the same player commits three consecutive fouls during a game, it is a loss of game. A warning must be given between the second and third foul.