The way you mount your joystick can impact they action on your stick. For example, my panel is 3/4" thick on the top. I think the whole is too small and the stick doesn't appear to have the range it should.
There are so many different assemblies to build a joystick around. In some cases you can mix and match parts. There is one product targeted to the folks that take their fight sticks to fighter tournaments.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/128223884/the-link-quick-release-joystick-shaftI shouldn't get overly philosophical for something that doesn't require it, but its kinda my thing. Think of building your control panel and your machine overall akin to a Jedi building his lightsaber. You've got to use the force to find the crystals, detect their impurities and align them. You will become one with your control panel as a Jedi with his lightsaber. It will become one with you as well.
Keep in mind, that some joysticks lend themselves to be mounted on metal rather than wood.
www.focusattack.com tends to target the fight stick tournament market. They have a lot of the different pieces I was referring to. Even an
optical pcb for your joystick.
Paradisearcadeshop has some too.