First, second and third pole tip components of a write head are formed with the second pole tip located between the first and third components and a write gap layer located between the first and second pole tip components. The second pole tip is formed with a width that defines a track width of the write head. The third pole tip component is formed with top and bottom surfaces wherein the bottom surface interfaces a top surface of the second pole tip component and has a width equal to the track width and wherein the top surface of the third pole tip has a width greater than the track width.