Deviations from desired shape of plasticly deformable objects are corrected within narrow tolerances by a method wherein the real shape of the object is sensed, whereupon the deviation from the desired shape is determined and a correction length corresponding to the deviation is defined, after which the object in a straightening operation is subjected to a shape correction corresponding to the correction length. At least one measurement transmitter (4) is disposed to sense the real shape of the object (2) and deliver a corresponding output signal which is fed to a unit (6,8,9) for comparison with information about the desired shape of the object stored in the unit for determining the deviation, the unit delivering an output signal defining a correction length corresponding to the deviation, the output signal controlling a straightening device (12,14,16,18,20,22,24) to carry out a correction of the shape of the object corresponding to the correction length. The method and the apparatus are adaptive as the shape of the object (2) is sensed after the shape correction and the relationship between correction length and deviation in the shape is modified in response to a possibly remaining deviation in the shape.