An apparatus and method for latching a hammer of an impact tool, the hammer being displaceable along a cam shaft between a latched or retracted position and an impact position at which the hammer impacts an anvil. The apparatus can include one or more latching bodies, a portion of the one or more latching bodies being positioned within the hammer groove when the hammer is at the latched position, and removed from the hammer groove when the hammer is to be released from the latched position. The apparatus can also include an actuator sleeve that is configured to retain at least the portion of the one or more latching bodies within the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at the first position, and accommodate removal of the portion of the latching bodies from the hammer groove when the actuator sleeve is at a second position.