We had an aluminium crook - it bent terminally the first time we used it. Now the only time either of us uses a crook is for judging, where you pose leaning on it while you cogitate, then tap your chosen specimen with the crook, for which you need a posh one.
For catching sheep at home, we pack them into a pen then squash the sheep we want against the hurdle, and from there you can gently hold the sheep under the chin - no panic, no resistance. For catching lambs to castrate - we don't castrate any more!! But when we used to, it was Mr F's job to do the rugby tackle. I only ever played lacrosse, and catching a lamb in a basket on a stick might work, but equally it might not. Anyway, I no longer have my lax stick