Hose, if the rip on the thumb is more like a slice, then the super glue trick just might be what the doctor ordered. I've used super glue to seal the skin back up before (after I was sure that I'd cleaned the wound good) after I found out that doctors use it during surgery sometimes.
Also, on my fingertips, I lift through the ball hard enough that I sometimes split open the skin between the callouses on the sides of the fingertips. I used to put Skin Patch on the fingertips to protect them, but it would wear off within one game or so. Now, I cover that vulnerable section of the fingertips with super glue prior to bowling, and the super glue seems to work much better at protecting the fingertips.
I'll give you a tip on how to make some of your own Smooth Slide powder that really works well to get your thumb out of the thumbhole. Go to the hardware store and buy about 3 rectangular style soapstone sticks (or even more....they cost about 25 cents each), put some 120 grit sandpaper on a sanding block, and then spread a newspaper out on the table in front of you. Then sand down soapstone sticks using the sandpaper, and collect the dust on the newspaper. Don't be surprised if it takes about 10 minutes to sand down each stick of soapstone, but hang in there and you'll get it done. After you've sanded down several sticks of soapstone, collect the dust and pour it into a small plastic jar that is big enough so that you can get your finger down inside of. Before each shot, simply stick a finger into the soapstone powder, rub the finger on the back of the thumb, and I can guarantee you a clean release. One word of caution about using the soapstone powder.....it is easy to spill it and make a slick mess, so just be careful about keeping a lid on the jar that you stash it in. Also, any moisture will quickly remove the soapstone from the thumb (or floor), so cleanup isn't a problem.
Another trick that I use on the sides of my thumb to get a clean release is to coat the sides of the thumb with Vaseline Lip Therapy. This style of Vaseline comes in a small squeeze tube, and it is very easy to control the application of it onto the thumb. I've found that the Vaseline Lip Therapy works out much better than the old Chap Stick trick.....Chap Stick is much harder to control the application amount. When you start to feel the sides of the thumb dragging on the release, just put another thin film of Vaseline on the sides of the thumb, and you're back in business. A tube of Vaseline Lip Therapy costs about 97 cents at WalMart (in the pharmacy section).
So, I've spent about $2 of your lunch money, but I've got your thumb clearing the thumbhole much easier! And, the soapstone powder will also work on the slide sole of your shoe, if needed.....just be sure to wipe off the excess before attempting to slide on the approach, so you don't transfer it to the approach. And, keep one of the rectangular soapstone sticks in your gear bag, so that you can rub the soapstone stick on the slide sole, in case you are sticking.....it works great, and doesn't make a mess for others to contend with. So, get at least 4 soapstone sticks while you are buying them. Also, rubbing the soapstone stick on the leading edge of the braking heel works great if you feel like your brakes are grabbing too hard....just rub the leading edge of the heel, and it will soften up the brakes.
Your problems are solved! Now, all you have to do is to get to WalMart for the Vaseline Lip Therapy, and get to the hardware store for some soapstone sticks and some 120 grit sandpaper....aluminum oxide sandpaper works best, as the granules don't fall off of the sandpaper.
