Still can't get accustomed to fight stick

I got the MadCatz Fight Stick (not the Tournament Edition). I actually have Tekken art on mine, but it's the same stick.

However, long before I got the stick I had been playing SSFII HD Remix, and then SS4, with the regular controller. I mainly use Guile. I got pretty damn good with the Xbox controller, despite the d-pad. Actually, my previous controller (which is now broken) happened to have a loose, flexible feel to the d-pad that actually allowed me to pull off Guile's ultra in clutch moments.

I try to go to the stick, but I'm not good. I used to be pretty competitive with Guile within the first months of SF4 coming out, but now I suck. Even when I go back to the controller, my new controller's d-pad is really stiff and hard to use.

Are there any exercises I can do to get good with the stick? After playing so much Guile, it's difficult for me to transfer to a non-charge character, but I'd like to pick up some new characters in SSF4.