Thin shield structure for reduced protrusion in a magnetoresistive head

A magnetic data recording head having reduced thermally induced shield (pole tip) protrusion. The head includes a magnetoresistive sensor sandwiched between first and second shield. The shields have a substantially reduced thickness. The distance between the shields defines a gap (G) and the shields each have a thickness (ST) such that the ratio ST/G is greater than 2, but less than 50. More preferably the ratio ST/G is greater than 2, but less than 20, and yet more preferably, the ratio ST/G is greater than 2 and less than 10.