Operating method for a cooling section which is arranged within a rolling train or upstream or downstream of the rolling train and by means of which a hot rolled product made of metal is cooled, - wherein a control device of the cooling section dynamically determines a respective setpoint actuation state (S1*) for a respective control valve arranged in a respective supply line and actuates the respective control valve accordingly, - wherein a respective basic flow of a liquid, water-based coolant is fed to a number of application devices of the cooling section via the respective supply line in accordance with the actuation of the respective control valve by the control device, - wherein the respective supply line feeds the respective basic flow to a respective buffer region of the respective application device, from which region a respective cooling flow of the coolant is applied to the hot rolled product by means of the respective application device, characterized - in that the control device additionally dynamically determines a respective further setpoint actuation state (S2*) for a respective active device and actuates the respective active device accordingly, - in that the respective active device feeds a respective additional flow of a further medium to the respective buffer region via a respective further supply line in accordance with the actuation of the respective active device by the control device, - in that the respective cooling flow depends both on the respective basic flow flowing through the respective control valve and on the respective additional flow flowing via the respective active device, - in that the respective additional flow is positive or negative depending on the respective further actuation state (S2*) of the respective active device, and - in that the control device sets the respective additional flow in such a way, by correspondingly actuating the respective active device, that the respective cooling flow is approximated as closely as possible at all times to a respective setpoint flow (F*) of the coolant to be applied to the hot rolled product by means of the respective application device. - wherein a control device of the cooling section dynamically determines a respective setpoint actuation state (S1*) for a respective control valve arranged in a respective supply line and actuates the respective control valve accordingly, - wherein a respective basic flow of a liquid, water-based coolant is fed to a number of application devices of the cooling section via the respective supply line in accordance with the actuation of the respective control valve by the control device, - wherein the respective supply line feeds the respective basic flow to a respective buffer region of the respective application device, from which region a respective cooling flow of the coolant is applied to the hot rolled product by means of the respective application device, - in that the control device additionally dynamically determines a respective further setpoint actuation state (S2*) for a respective active device and actuates the respective active device accordingly, - in that the respective active device feeds a respective additional flow of a further medium to the respective buffer region via a respective further supply line in accordance with the actuation of the respective active device by the control device, - in that the respective cooling flow depends both on the respective basic flow flowing through the respective control valve and on the respective additional flow flowing via the respective active device, - in that the respective additional flow is positive or negative depending on the respective further actuation state (S2*) of the respective active device, and - in that the control device sets the respective additional flow in such a way, by correspondingly actuating the respective active device, that the respective cooling flow is approximated as closely as possible at all times to a respective setpoint flow (F*) of the coolant to be applied to the hot rolled product by means of the respective application device.