How do I get my actions to default to the intended input?

I'm trying to make a system where the player can pick up blocks, then throw them left, right, up, or down. What's happening right now is the first time the player lets go of a block, it gets thrown to the right, regardless of what direction the player is facing/aiming. The second time the player lets go of the block, it seems to work as intended.

Can anyone tell me why the first throw is always to the right, but subsequent throws can be aimed as intended?

Here's a screenshot of the events in question:

And here's a playable example:

construct.net/en/free-online-games/block-example-87657/play

Note that I only have gamepad controls for picking up/throwing at the moment. I'll try to incorporate the keyboard in the future.

Try setting bullet speed before setting the angle of motion.

In fact, you should move these three actions into the parent event on your screenshot:

Block set bullet speed
Block set gravity
Block set bounce off solids

...If player mirrored: Block set angle of motion to 150
...Else: Block set angle of motion to 30