Operating method for a cooling section for a flat rolling stock, - wherein the flat rolling stock is guided through an active region of a number of spray bars, - wherein a liquid coolant is fed via a pump and a feed-line system from a reservoir to the spray bars, - wherein opening positions (si) of valves arranged upstream of the spray bars within the feed-line system are set by a control device according to a respective partial flow (fi) to be applied to the flat rolling stock by means of the respective spray bar, - wherein a total flow to be applied to the flat rolling stock by means of the spray bars as a whole is known to the control device, or the total flow is automatically ascertained by the control device by way of the partial flows (fi), - wherein a delivery power of the pump and a line pressure (p) generated in the feed-line system by means of the pump are set by the control device according to the total flow, characterized - in that the line pressure (p) is set between a minimum valve (pmin) and a maximum value (pmax), - in that the opening positions (si) of the valves are set in a continuously variable manner, or in multiple steps, between a respective fully closed position and a respective fully open position (sil), - in that, in the case in which the line pressure (p) is at the maximum value (pmax), there exists at least one respective opening position (si) of the valves for which the liquid coolant flowing through the respective valve cavitates, and - in that, in the case in which laminar cooling is realized, a line pressure (p) which is significantly lower than the maximum value (pmax) is set in the feed-line system and the opening positions (si) of the valves are set in such a way that no cavitation occurs. - wherein the flat rolling stock is guided through an active region of a number of spray bars, - wherein a liquid coolant is fed via a pump and a feed-line system from a reservoir to the spray bars, - wherein opening positions (si) of valves arranged upstream of the spray bars within the feed-line system are set by a control device according to a respective partial flow (fi) to be applied to the flat rolling stock by means of the respective spray bar, - wherein a total flow to be applied to the flat rolling stock by means of the spray bars as a whole is known to the control device, or the total flow is automatically ascertained by the control device by way of the partial flows (fi), - wherein a delivery power of the pump and a line pressure (p) generated in the feed-line system by means of the pump are set by the control device according to the total flow, - in that the line pressure (p) is set between a minimum valve (pmin) and a maximum value (pmax), - in that the opening positions (si) of the valves are set in a continuously variable manner, or in multiple steps, between a respective fully closed position and a respective fully open position (sil), - in that, in the case in which the line pressure (p) is at the maximum value (pmax), there exists at least one respective opening position (si) of the valves for which the liquid coolant flowing through the respective valve cavitates, and - in that, in the case in which laminar cooling is realized, a line pressure (p) which is significantly lower than the maximum value (pmax) is set in the feed-line system and the opening positions (si) of the valves are set in such a way that no cavitation occurs.