This study aims to investigate effect of geometric characteristics of oil pockets scrapped by laser under starved lubrication condition on the tribological performance. Different surface patterns on low carbon steel were fabricated by nano-second pulsed laser. Friction tests were conducted using a rotating type tribometer along with scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer and other analytical instruments to observe their wear mechanisms to evaluate the influence of different oil pocket geometric characteristics on the hard rail tribological performance.The experiment results showed that the surface pattern with physical wedge (outlet depth of 0 μm and bottom inclination angle of 0.16°) could enhance the micro hydrodynamic effect during sliding contact, resulting in decreased friction coefficient and improved the tribological performance.