for the flat lamp sockets, usually if you bend the barbs a bit it helps...especially if you bend them so they both angled in or both out so you get a wedging affect. You go into the same holes, but you want the tips to bite into fresh wood below the surface.
probably the best lamp tool I've used is something like the CTA Tools 1012 ($13 or so)....kinda like pliers with rubber coated/cupped ends. The main advantages over the or-55 tool are: it's easier to clean off when the lamps are dusty/oily, it's faster to use, and it works for all the lamp sizes.
the or-55 works pretty well tho, especially if the lamps are clean.