A perpendicular magnetic recording write head that may be used in magnetic recording disk drives has a magnetic write pole (WP) with an end that is generally the same width as the width of the data tracks on the disk. A trailing shield (TS) is spaced from the WP in the along-the-track direction, a pair of side shields are located on opposite sides of the WP in the cross-track direction, and an optional leading shield (LS) is located on the opposite side of the WP from the TS in the along-the-track direction. The TS, side shields and LS are formed of magnetically permeable soft ferromagnetic material and are separated from each other by nonmagnetic separation layers. The TS, side shields and LS each has a throat height (TH) thickness in its region facing the WP. The throat heights for the shields may be different.