A control method for generating a manipulated variable for controlling a hydraulic drive. In this case, account is taken of at least a desired value for the speed of the hydraulic drive, a first parameter, which simulates the response characteristic of the hydraulic drive, and a second parameter, which simulates the internal resistance which the technical process, opposes to the hydraulic drive. It is advantageous that nonlinear dependencies of the hydraulic drive can be taken into account for generating the manipulated variable driving the hydraulic drive. A technically complicated sensor system may be dispensed with. The control method may serve, in particular, the nonlinear control of a plastics injection molding machine.