To improve the grappling hook's ability to grapple when thrown, it should attempt to maintain a prograde orientation to it's own velocity when ejected so that whatever it hits or lands on is in front of it.

In addition to this should it also align prograde to the direction that the cable pulls it on retraction.
Getting them snapped back to the winch in space is really hard because the pull is exactly at their Center of Mass so they reorient not even a little from getting pulled.