A joystick assembly includes a joystick and pre-load centering springs coupled to the joystick for biasing the joystick to a neutral position. The joystick has a central free-play zone, a transitional zone surrounding the central free-play zone in which the pre-load centering springs begin to act upon the joystick, and a load zone surrounding the transitional zone in which the pre-load centering springs exert a relatively flat spring rate upon the joystick. An angular position sensor system generates a first signal indicative of a travel angle of the joystick. A force sensor system generates a second signal indicative of a force applied to the joystick. A controller receives the first and second signals and sets start/stop points for control by the joystick approximately synchronously with the joystick moving from the transitional zone to the load zone based upon the second signal.