(EN) A knitting tool (10) preferably a latch needle intended for fast running knitting machines has a meandering shaft with reduced thickness regions. The meandering shaft is adjoined by a straight shaft extension (16) which likewise has a reduced thickness portion (32). The shaft extension (16) is distinguished from the shaft (15) by way of its height H2 which is less than the height H1 of the shaft (15). The reduced thickness region (32) of the shaft extension (16) has a length which is at least much greater than the length of the stitch forming structure (28) carried by the shaft extension (16). Preferably the reduced thickness region (32) is longer overall than the non reduced thickness region of the shaft extension (16). With this configuration a surprisingly efficient high speed compatible knitting tool (10) is created.