Control method for a handheld impact wrench for fastening steel components by means of screw connections, the impact wrench having a handle, an electric motor, a hammer driven by the electric motor, an anvil for absorbing impacts of the hammer acting in a circumferential direction, a tool holder arranged on the anvil and an operating mode selector switch, the method comprising the steps of: performing a first operating mode when the operating mode selector switch is in a first position, wherein, during the first operating mode, first impacts of the hammer are performed on the anvil, the event of an impact of the hammer on the anvil is detected by an impact sensor, an angular position (phi) of the anvil is detected by an angle sensor, a single-impact angle (theta) of the anvil is estimated by the last detected impact, on the basis of the angular position (phi) of the anvil before the last detected impact and the angular position (phi) of the anvil after the last detected impact, the single-impact angle (theta) is compared with a single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), the first operating mode is ended when the single-impact angle (theta) is below a single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), and performing a second operating mode when the operating mode selector switch is in a second position, wherein, during the second operating mode, before the second impacts, the angular position (phi) of the anvil is detected by the angle sensor as the initial position (Phi), performing second impacts of the hammer on the anvil, wherein, during the second impacts, a relative angle of rotation (dphi) of the anvil in relation to the initial position (Phi) is determined, and the second operating mode is ended when the relative angle of rotation (dphi) exceeds a standard angle (dPhi), wherein, before performing the second impacts, the second operating mode performs at least one first impact, determines the single-impact angle (theta) in relation to the first impact and compares it with the single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), and wherein the second operating mode is discontinued when the single-impact angle (theta) exceeds the single-impact setpoint angle (Theta). performing a first operating mode when the operating mode selector switch is in a first position, wherein, during the first operating mode, first impacts of the hammer are performed on the anvil, the event of an impact of the hammer on the anvil is detected by an impact sensor, an angular position (phi) of the anvil is detected by an angle sensor, a single-impact angle (theta) of the anvil is estimated by the last detected impact, on the basis of the angular position (phi) of the anvil before the last detected impact and the angular position (phi) of the anvil after the last detected impact, the single-impact angle (theta) is compared with a single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), the first operating mode is ended when the single-impact angle (theta) is below a single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), and performing a second operating mode when the operating mode selector switch is in a second position, wherein, during the second operating mode, before the second impacts, the angular position (phi) of the anvil is detected by the angle sensor as the initial position (Phi), performing second impacts of the hammer on the anvil, wherein, during the second impacts, a relative angle of rotation (dphi) of the anvil in relation to the initial position (Phi) is determined, and the second operating mode is ended when the relative angle of rotation (dphi) exceeds a standard angle (dPhi), wherein, before performing the second impacts, the second operating mode performs at least one first impact, determines the single-impact angle (theta) in relation to the first impact and compares it with the single-impact setpoint angle (Theta), and wherein the second operating mode is discontinued when the single-impact angle (theta) exceeds the single-impact setpoint angle (Theta).