I think 'the miss' is actually a false suggestion created my the rhythm of the way the scene is cut. You expect him to throw the hook earlier, based on the pacing, but it then cuts to him still unthreading the rope. Its like that thing magicians do in the film "the prestige", you create a series of steps up to something and the mind fills in the blank. So you have the impression of actually seeing something but then when you go back in the cold light of day you see it was never there.