A fastener includes a shank having a point at a first end and a second, head end. One or more prolate cross-section regions is formed in the shank. Prolate cross-section regions may be formed in a threaded section and/or a thread free section of the fastener. Each prolate cross-section may have a polar diameter greater than the cylindrical diameter of the region in which it is formed and an equatorial diameter smaller than the corresponding cylindrical diameter of the region in which it is formed. Two generally adjacent prolate cross-section regions have cross-sections offset with respect to each other by an angle between zero and ninety-degrees.