A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a configuration of leading edge shields and trailing edge shields that reduce the leakage of flux between the main pole and the shields. The reduction of leakage is achieved by eliminating the sharp 90° corner between the backside surfaces of the shields and the surfaces adjacent to the main pole. In one embodiment the corner is replaced by two successive acute angles, in another embodiment it is replaced by a rounded surface. In a final embodiment, leakage between the pole and trailing edge shield is achieved by shortening the length of the write gap by forming the shield with a double taper.