Great idea Turnkey on the 8' version...think I'll have to steal your idea, Lol. What was your pole material? I'm thinkin maybe a piece of rigid wall 1" or so conduit. Drill an appropriate diameter hole through the end, run a stainless bolt through with washers both sides, a nylon nut, then maybe grind the exposed threads off to a point and give the tip end a little downwards hook bend. Could even add a busing to the inside diameter of the pole to keep the nylon nut and bolt from collapsing the walls.
8' closet pole and a compression fitting from the plumbing dept. Fitting crossdrilled for a 1/2" piece of allthread.
That combination gives just enough weight at the end of the pole to do the job and the handle is light, easy to maneuver and has a nice feel. I first thought of using aluminum conduit but didn't like the feel of a 8' length.
That little backward bend in the tip of the hook is important. You don't have to "slam" it to hook a round, just reach out and pull.