Magnetic force microscopy, magneto-optical Kerr effect and micromagnetic simulations were used for the magnetization configuration and magnetic switching of submicron 'Pac-man' shaped NI 80Fe 20 elements with conventional and modified geometry. The experimental results show that the sensitive interplay between exchange, demagnetizing and shape anisotropy energies leads to distinct magnetization configurations and magnetic switching mechanisms. This is even when the geometric shapes of elements is only slightly modified. In cases where 40% elongated element is used, vortex-driven magnetic switching is replaced by well-defined coherent reversal.