Abstract
We show that reliable control of dynamical localization (DL) in the context of generic Hamiltonians subjected to periodic fields can be achieved by solely reshaping the field waveform. This approach is discussed using an example of cold atoms moving in a phase-modulated standing light field. We explain the control mechanism on the basis of a correlation between the strength of DL and the chaotic layer width of a perturbed pendulum that effectively describes the atoms' dynamics. In particular, this approach provides a versatile mechanism for controlling the dynamics of cold atoms which is capable of experimental realization in a near future.