Operating method for a cooling zone for cooling hot rolling stock of metal, wherein the cooling zone has a pump, which takes coolant from a coolant reservoir and feeds it via a system of lines to a number of coolant outlets (4, 6), which are controlled by way of valves arranged upstream of the coolant outlets (4, 6), - wherein, cyclically for a respective point in time, a control device of the cooling zone -- taking into consideration coolant flows (Wi) that are intended to be delivered via the coolant outlets (4, 6) at the respective point in time, together with a working pressure (pA) of the coolant present on the input side of the valves, determines activation states (Ci) for the valves, -- determines an overall coolant flow by adding together the coolant flows (Wi), -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow and the working pressure (pA) of the coolant, determines a pump pressure (pP) that is intended to prevail on the output side of the pump, so that the working pressure (pA) is achieved on the input side of the valves, -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow, the pump pressure (pP) and a suction pressure (pS) prevailing on the input side of the pump, determines an activation state for the pump and -- activates the valves and the pump in a way corresponding to the activation states (Ci, CP) determined, characterized in that, cyclically for the respective point in time, the control device takes into consideration in the determination of the pump pressure (pP) in addition to the overall coolant flow and the working pressure (pA) of the coolant also a change (δWG) of the overall coolant flow. - wherein, cyclically for a respective point in time, a control device of the cooling zone -- taking into consideration coolant flows (Wi) that are intended to be delivered via the coolant outlets (4, 6) at the respective point in time, together with a working pressure (pA) of the coolant present on the input side of the valves, determines activation states (Ci) for the valves, -- determines an overall coolant flow by adding together the coolant flows (Wi), -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow and the working pressure (pA) of the coolant, determines a pump pressure (pP) that is intended to prevail on the output side of the pump, so that the working pressure (pA) is achieved on the input side of the valves, -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow, the pump pressure (pP) and a suction pressure (pS) prevailing on the input side of the pump, determines an activation state for the pump and -- activates the valves and the pump in a way corresponding to the activation states (Ci, CP) determined, characterized in that, cyclically for the respective point in time, the control device takes into consideration in the determination of the pump pressure (pP) in addition to the overall coolant flow and the working pressure (pA) of the coolant also a change (δWG) of the overall coolant flow. -- taking into consideration coolant flows (Wi) that are intended to be delivered via the coolant outlets (4, 6) at the respective point in time, together with a working pressure (pA) of the coolant present on the input side of the valves, determines activation states (Ci) for the valves, -- determines an overall coolant flow by adding together the coolant flows (Wi), -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow and the working pressure (pA) of the coolant, determines a pump pressure (pP) that is intended to prevail on the output side of the pump, so that the working pressure (pA) is achieved on the input side of the valves, -- taking into consideration the overall coolant flow, the pump pressure (pP) and a suction pressure (pS) prevailing on the input side of the pump, determines an activation state for the pump and -- activates the valves and the pump in a way corresponding to the activation states (Ci, CP) determined, characterized