Abstract: A composite drill pipe has an improved means of attaching a metal end fitting to a composite tubular member using corresponding annular grooves in the metal end fitting and the composite tubular member. In addition to annular grooves for axial loads, a plurality of axial grooves can also be included to accommodate greater torsional loads. The composite pipe body can also include a buildup made of a compliant rubber layer, a composite overwrap, and a wear pad in order to reduce the effective buckling node spacing to even further increase the axial load capability.