In one embodiment, a device determines locations of a plurality of transmitters relative to a particular wireless access point in a wireless network. One of the transmitters comprises a target client to which the particular wireless access point is to communicate. The device compares a plurality of beamforming patterns associated with the particular wireless access point to the determined locations. The device selects, based on the comparison, one of the beamforming patterns for use by the particular wireless access point to communicate with the target client. The device controls the particular wireless access point to use the selected beamforming pattern to communicate with the target client.