A rotatable cutting tool includes a cutting tool body that has an axial
forward end and an axial rearward end. The cutting tool body further has
an axial length. There is a hard tip, which has a distal end, affixed to
the cutting tool body at the axial forward end thereof. The cutting tool
body has a clearance portion axial rearward of the distal end of the hard
tip wherein the clearance portion has a transverse dimension. The
clearance portion includes an axial forward transverse dimension and a
minimum transverse dimension that is axial rearward of the axial forward
transverse dimension. The axial forward dimension is greater than the
minimum transverse dimension. The clearance portion has an axial length
equal to between about ten percent and about thirty-five percent of the
axial length of the cutting tool body.