Using a Tub Drain Remover?

When I tried to use a dumbbell wrench (also called tub drain remover) to remove a tub drain, the cross bar breaks off. I am wondering whether I might turned in the wrong direction? Does turning anti-clockwise loose the tub drain? I had water leakage to my ceiling from a tub on the 2nd floor. I had it fixed by a plumber, who simply applied some plumber's putty under tub drain.

But after a couple years, the problem occurs again. Do you have some suggestion on how to fix it? I saw someone posted a tool called drain key to remove a tub drain w/o cross bar. Has anyone actually used it. My house was build on 1999. Thanks.

George from Atlanta, GA