PURPOSE: To correct the shape detect of a strip while meeting the requirement for a low crown by changing the crown of work rolls to decrease the crown of the strip in the front stage where the influence of a hot finishing stand thereby decreasing the change of the crown ratio of a shaft defect stand in the rear stage.

CONSTITUTION: The thermal crown of the 4th stand 14 of a 6-stands finishing mill 10 consisting of, for example, the 1st stand 11W6th stand 16 is controlled to correct the middle waviness in the 5th stand 15. The flow rate of the roll cooling water of the stand 15 is decreased to about 1/2W1/3 the ordinary flow rate to allow the thermal crown of the work rolls of the stand 14 for the above- mentioned purpose. The crown of the strip on the inlet side of the stand 15 is thereby decreased. the middle waviness is thus corrected without increasing the crown of the strip.