With over 50 years of racquet sports experience and 40 years in construction, John Shaffer has established Rhino Sports as a global leader by blending professional play with technical mastery. Since founding the company in 1988, Shaffer has overseen the installation of more than 30,000 courts worldwide, ensuring high-tier quality through his USTA Facility Certification and a player-centric design philosophy. Beyond construction, he is a deeply credentialed pickleball authority, serving as a PPR Certified Teaching Professional, a Proton Sports Advisor, and a facilitator for international initiatives with Arizona State University and the U.S. Department of State. His rare dual expertise as an elite coach and master builder allows him to advance the sport through community engagement, athlete safety, and innovative facility development on a global scale.
A Phoenix native whose passion for sports began on a neighborhood backyard court, Gavin Hensing has spent 25 years turning that childhood enthusiasm into a professional legacy. After a standout tennis career at Mountain Pointe High School and coaching youth sports while attending Arizona State University, Gavin joined Rhino Sports in its infancy as an intern under partner John Shaffer. He eventually rose to manage every facet of the business, personally installing courts across nearly every U.S. state and several international locations. Today, Gavin resides in Ahwatukee with his wife, Sara, and their son, Hayes, where he remains dedicated to keeping families active and fostering community through high-quality backyard court construction.
The Good Sport Foundation, a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was founded on the belief that pickleball is a powerful tool for community engagement. It drives positive change, growth, education, and physical and mental well-being through grassroots efforts worldwide. The Good Sports Foundation believes that a ball, a paddle, and a day can change a life forever.
We are proud to engineer the best pickleball courts in the game. We build beautiful, functional pickleball courts for all levels of play; including both recreational courts for residential homes and professional courts for major pickleball venues. We provide durable, high-performance pickleball courts that start with the most innovative court flooring on the market and designed to reflect our clients personality. We pride ourselves on providing custom court designs to meet the unique needs of various clients and have worked with some of the most renowned players and organizations in the sport throughout the country!
Rhino Sports®
Dink. Volley. Smash. With over 40+ years of experience, Rhino Sports® is Arizona’s top custom Indoor & Outdoor Pickleball Court Builder in the state. Our work has also been nationally recognized and we are considered one of the most prestigious Pickleball Court Designers & Installers; delivering world-class service with the highest quality of workmanship possible.
My boyfriend and I moved into our first home together last year along with our two puppies. Our home backs up to a beautiful lake and we were concerned our two dogs would jump into the lake and have no way of getting out. We reached out to Rhino Courts to install a dog run with turf on the side of our house. Within 24 hours of reaching out Gavin was at our house to check out the layout and even brought our dogs treats! We are so impressed with not only the way our dog run turned out but the customer service we received. I definitely recommend this company for all of your turf and court needs! Thanks Gavin!
A portion of our backyard was paved but quite run down, and we weren't sure what to do with it, so we began investigating different options to improve that area of our yard. Bay Area Rhino Court quickly rose to the top of our list because the product was durable, good looking, cost effective and could be installed relatively quickly.
It has now been just over a year since our Rhino Court was installed, and we couldn't be happier! Whether we're playing basketball, volleyball, or pickle ball, we have a blast together on the court. The product has held up really well, and I can't recommend it highly enough to anyone searching for a way to upgrade their yard!
The company's owner, Farrell was great through the entire process, and he has even come through for us recently. Unfortunately, we lost a part for our net that connects it to the basketball post, but Farrell helped us out by finding the part and getting it to us quickly. My family is so appreciative for his assistance through the purchasing and installation process and the continued top-notch customer support.
Gavin did an excellent job of meeting my needs. He came to ensure my footer was poured correctly when my concrete was poured. He and his partner install my hoop promptly and they were extremely friendly. Whenever I had an issue he was responsive and fixed it even when it was my fault. This is the hoop I always wanted as a kid and my kids love it. They’re outside every day playing basketball. I recommend him to all my friends and family.
I purchased a Rhinocort back in 2005 from Gavin Hensing . I wanted to add onto it so I reached out to them again and fortunately I was able to be able to work with Gavin again. It was a breath of fresh air to know the salesman I worked with 14 years ago is still with the company. It is an excellent product that I would recommend to anyone. Much better product than the other competitors around town in my opinion. Fantastic customer service and Gavin was an absolute treat to work with back in 2005 and even today
If you have decided to install pickleball court in your residential or commercial property, the pickleball court’s design should be completed to your exact specifications. We have handled pickleball court designs for years, which means that we have the experience to design the perfect pickleball court for you and your needs. A proper pickleball court design is the best way to put your spin on your commercial or residential property, and the team of professionals at Rhino Sports would be happy to help you out.
In addition to the design work that we do, we are also expert at handling pickleball court installation as well. A well-designed pickleball court is practically worthless if the pickleball court installation isn't handled properly. We have years of experience taking care of pickleball court installations and would be honored to take care of your project as well.
Let’s talk pickleball. Please give us a call or fill out our contact form for a free quote.
