The production of a near‐diffraction‐limited single‐lobed angle‐switchable output beam from a broad‐area diode laser with an intracavity spatial phase controller is demonstrated. This 100‐&mgr;m‐wide broad‐area laser produces a 0.8° full width at half maximum output beam at single‐facet pulsed powers of ≳300 mW. The spatial phase controller operates in two distinct modes (thermal and gain), providing beam scanning over 1.4° and beam switching of 8°. The phase controller also permits a dynamic study of the effect of wavefront tilt on device coupling and phasing.