a method of rolling metal strip , and in particular steel strip , in which the metal strip passes through the roll gap of at least one roll stand , allows the work rolls of the roll stand which define the roll gap to be able to be shifted along their axes of rotation if differences occur in the shape of the roll gap from its desired shape . the method provides for flat products to be rolled which meet very stringent requirements in respect of their dimensional accuracy . for this purpose , the work rolls are shifted in the same direction in accordance with the invention , following a given shift strategy which is characterized by a regular change in the direction of shift as a function of the reaching of given maximum shifted positions .