A magnetic write head having a magnetic cross yoke arranged to provide a cross magnetic field in a pole tip region of the magnetic head. The cross field, which is perpendicular to the magnetization of write pole, reduces the switching time of the write field, thereby increasing the speed with which the write head can record data. The write head can be a longitudinal write head or a perpendicular write head. In the case of a perpendicular write, the write head can include a write pole arranged to provide a magnetic write field that emits a magnetic field substantially perpendicular with an Air Bearing Surface (ABS). A magnetic cross yoke is formed having ends that are disposed at opposite sides of the pole tip region of the write pole. A magnetic cross field that extends across the pole tip region of the write pole slightly alters the direction of the magnetization of the write pole. If the head is a longitudinal head, it can include first and second magnetic poles separated in the pole tip region by a write gap. The cross yoke can be arranged to produce a cross field that extends across the pole tip region defined by the first and second magnetic poles.