Neither one is better across the board. Outdoor practice gives you real turf, real lies, and true ball flight through actual wind and air. An indoor simulator gives you instant swing data, repeatable conditions, and access regardless of weather. Which one helps your game more depends on what you're actually working on.
What Outdoor Practice Gives You
There's no substitute for hitting off real grass, playing from an uneven lie, or judging a shot in actual wind. Short game work especially benefits from real turf, chipping and bunker play feel different indoors than they do on an actual course.
What an Indoor Simulator Gives You
A simulator hands you instant numbers on every swing, clubhead speed, launch angle, spin, and carry distance, without needing to walk anywhere to see the result. It's also available on your schedule, 24/7, regardless of temperature, rain, or daylight.
Best For Working on Mechanics
If the goal is fixing a swing fault or building consistency, a simulator paired with a PGA professional and real data is usually the faster path. You see the result of every swing immediately, and a pro can spot patterns across dozens of reps in a single session.
Best For Course Feel and Short Game
If the goal is reading real lies, practicing out of a bunker, or getting a feel for actual greens, time on outdoor turf still matters. That's not something a simulator is designed to replace.
Most Golfers Use Both
The two aren't competing with each other so much as covering different gaps. Indoor practice fills the months and hours outdoor practice simply isn't available, especially through an Ohio winter, while outdoor time stays valuable for the parts of the game a screen can't fully replicate.
Work on your swing with real data. Book a lesson, or reserve a bay to practice on your own.